--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought it would be my one and only…" description: "\"I thought it would be my one and only exhibition, so I decided to call it My Major Retrospective\" — Tracey Emin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f9/tracey-emin-6953_decided_i-thought-it-would-be-my-one-and-only-ex_1446505.jpg" --- # I thought it would be my one and only exhibition, so I… ![“I thought it would be my one and only exhibition, so I decided to call it My Major Retrospective” quote by Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f9/tracey-emin-6953_decided_i-thought-it-would-be-my-one-and-only-ex_1446505.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f9/tracey-emin-6953_decided_i-thought-it-would-be-my-one-and-only-ex_1446505.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f9/tracey-emin-6953_decided_i-thought-it-would-be-my-one-and-only-ex_1446505.jpg) > “I thought it would be my one and only exhibition, so I decided to call it My Major Retrospective” [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist anticipates a singular, defining showcase of her work. **In simple terms:** She expected a one‑time major show. Key Takeaway Prepare for pivotal moments. Themes art career expectation Mood introspective anticipatory Type artistic personal When to use this quote - gallery openings - career planning - personal milestones Key Concepts self‑presentation legacy public reception Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure artistic success? - What follows a major retrospective? A Different Perspective One exhibition may not define an entire career. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exhibition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhibition/) [Retrospective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retrospective/) ## Related quotes > [I am not really sure that Diana Vreeland did Yves Saint Laurent a favor, as opposed to the world, by putting that exhibition at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-menkes/i-am-not-really-sure-that-diana-vreeland-did-yves-saint-laurent-a/) [Suzy Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-menkes/) > [I didn't have an exhibition anywhere until I was 30. My first exhibition was at 30, and then for my first show in America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-didn-t-have-an-exhibition-anywhere-until-i-was-30-my-first/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I am happy to exhibit, but not to put myself on exhibition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/i-am-happy-to-exhibit-but-not-to-put-myself-on-exhibition/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [An exhibition is in many ways a series of conversations. Between the artist and viewer, curator and viewer, and between the works of art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-golden/an-exhibition-is-in-many-ways-a-series-of-conversations-between-the/) [Thelma Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-golden/) > [Vijay Singh won a playoff in 2004 at Whistling Straits after a final-round 76, which was the highest last round by the winner of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/vijay-singh-won-a-playoff-in-2004-at-whistling-straits-after-a-final/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) > [If one or two works from a body of work for an exhibition are what you would like to be remembered by, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bellamy-foster/if-one-or-two-works-from-a-body-of-work-for-an-exhibition-are-what/) [John Bellamy Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bellamy-foster/) > [If it were possible for any one person or group of persons to go through a photographic finishing plant's work at the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/if-it-were-possible-for-any-one-person-or-group-of-persons-to-go/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [I'd prefer to invite the artists simply to work and have fun with Guatemalan artists. To share missions of life. Maybe that is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gonzalez/i-d-prefer-to-invite-the-artists-simply-to-work-and-have-fun-with/) [Luis Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gonzalez/) > [I have always thought that it would be nice to not complete the exhibition in one place and close off the others as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasumasa-morimura/i-have-always-thought-that-it-would-be-nice-to-not-complete-the/) [Yasumasa Morimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasumasa-morimura/) > [ I planned the exhibition so that it becomes a story where the viewer travels through these islands \[of ideas\]. Whether the contents of each… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasumasa-morimura/i-planned-the-exhibition-so-that-it-becomes-a-story-where-the-viewer/) [Yasumasa Morimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasumasa-morimura/) > [When you're playing an exhibition, you're kind of letting everyone get an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/when-you-re-playing-an-exhibition-you-re-kind-of-letting-everyone-get/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [I'm still trying to discover my position on my own artwork and hopefully at this exhibition someone will come and tell me. I'm open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-coxon/i-m-still-trying-to-discover-my-position-on-my-own-artwork-and/) [Graham Coxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-coxon/) > [My works are dear to me, each in its own way, I shall have to answer for them on the Day off Judgement. God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-chagall/my-works-are-dear-to-me-each-in-its-own-way-i-shall-have-to-answer/) [Marc Chagall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-chagall/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [I look at the character of the exhibition and I treat it as I would a painting or an installation. When I did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-look-at-the-character-of-the-exhibition-and-i-treat-it-as-i-would-a/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) ## More by Tracey Emin > [Someone else who liked what I did might turn around and say, "She's reworking and rethinking everything. She could just be making blankets now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/someone-else-who-liked-what-i-did-might-turn-around-and-say-she-s/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I know people went to laugh at my bed and to jeer at it. Still, at least they actually went to see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-know-people-went-to-laugh-at-my-bed-and-to-jeer-at-it-still-at/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [People don't remember. Revenge is sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/people-don-t-remember-revenge-is-sweet/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I'm a terrible cook, but if I could cook, I would see that in art as well, it's how much creative energy you put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-m-a-terrible-cook-but-if-i-could-cook-i-would-see-that-in-art-as/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [For me, being an artist with a high profile is a good thing for art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/for-me-being-an-artist-with-a-high-profile-is-a-good-thing-for-art/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [When you don't have children you have to define and make your own purpose, and make your own reason for being here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/when-you-don-t-have-children-you-have-to-define-and-make-your-own/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I really love animals. My cat is my little soul mate. He's not just a cat, he's my friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-really-love-animals-my-cat-is-my-little-soul-mate-he-s-not-just-a/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [It wasn't so much destroying my dancing, it was destroying me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing-it-was-destroying-me/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [The reason why I'm popular as an artist in this country is because it suits the psyche of the nation at this time. Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/the-reason-why-i-m-popular-as-an-artist-in-this-country-is-because-it/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Most people don't do something seminal. I've done it twice: with my tent and my bed. Picasso did it with Cubism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/most-people-don-t-do-something-seminal-i-ve-done-it-twice-with-my/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I found that life has to be edited to continue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-found-that-life-has-to-be-edited-to-continue/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE THE PAST HEAD ON.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/don-t-be-afraid-to-take-the-past-head-on/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“I don’t believe in love, but I believe in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-don-t-believe-in-love-but-i-believe-in-you/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [When it comes to words I have a uniqueness that I find almost impossible in art – and it's my words that actually make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/when-it-comes-to-words-i-have-a-uniqueness-that-i-find-almost/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“He pulled my skirt up. I began to worry. Everyone knew he had broken in girls before and I didn't want it to happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/he-pulled-my-skirt-up-i-began-to-worry-everyone-knew-he-had-broken-in/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) [Explore all 96 Tracey Emin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) ## More Decided quotes > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [The only thing I try to watch carefully is that I never lose the love for the instrument. 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I'm a single mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-murphy/i-just-decided-to-take-some-time-off-i-ve-been-modeling-since-93-92/) [Carolyn Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-murphy/) > [When I became 21, I decided that nobody learned anything about politics after the age of 21.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/when-i-became-21-i-decided-that-nobody-learned-anything-about/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [Before I started doing the film and when I found out I was going to be doing it, I just decided to pump up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parminder-nagra/before-i-started-doing-the-film-and-when-i-found-out-i-was-going-to/) [Parminder Nagra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parminder-nagra/) > [In a personal way, to do with family and the father-son relationship, in a kind of artistic way with regard to him being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/in-a-personal-way-to-do-with-family-and-the-father-son-relationship/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [You've decided to love me for eternity, I'm still deciding who I want to be today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/you-ve-decided-to-love-me-for-eternity-i-m-still-deciding-who-i-want/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I turned to my mom and said, 'I'm going to be a martial arts movie star.' She didn't believe me, and neither did my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/i-turned-to-my-mom-and-said-i-m-going-to-be-a-martial-arts-movie-star/) [Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/) > [He decided then that he would love her forever no matter what came to pass. It was not so much a matter of deciding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/he-decided-then-that-he-would-love-her-forever-no-matter-what-came-to/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [At age 28, I had no retail experience, no consumer marketing experience and no real Internet experience. But I decided I wanted to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/at-age-28-i-had-no-retail-experience-no-consumer-marketing-experience/) [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) > [Work hard on each opinion, but once the case is decided, don't look back; go on to the next case and give it your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/work-hard-on-each-opinion-but-once-the-case-is-decided-don-t-look/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [You see, years ago I was just an ordinary bee minding my own business, smelling flowers all day, and occasionally picking up part-time work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-years-ago-i-was-just-an-ordinary-bee-minding-my-own-business/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) Browse all 3,155 Decided quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought it would be my one and only exhibition, so I decided to call it My Major Retrospective", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tracey Emin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-thought-it-would-be-my-one-and-only-exhibition-so-i-decided-to-call/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decided" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-thought-it-would-be-my-one-and-only-exhibition-so-i-decided-to-call/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f9/tracey-emin-6953_decided_i-thought-it-would-be-my-one-and-only-ex_1446505.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f9/tracey-emin-6953_decided_i-thought-it-would-be-my-one-and-only-ex_1446505.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f9/tracey-emin-6953_decided_i-thought-it-would-be-my-one-and-only-ex_1446505.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I thought it would be my one and only exhibition, so I decided to call it My Major Retrospective” — Tracey Emin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tracey Emin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I thought it would be my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-thought-it-would-be-my-one-and-only-exhibition-so-i-decided-to-call/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-thought-it-would-be-my-one-and-only-exhibition-so-i-decided-to-call/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```