Monday 5 October 2009

Emin, great!

The government is currently considering a whole new raft of legislation that it hopes will irritate 'conceptual artist' Tracey Emin. The plan by the Treasury to raise the top rate of tax to 50% has been tremendously popular because it has led to the artist threatening to quit Britain. Some are now wondering whether the government should go further and create a new round of legislation that will effectively 'seal the deal'.

Emin, whose masterpieces include an un-made bed complete with dirty knickers, and a tent with the names of her lovers stitched into it, is considered in some quarters to have been grossly overpaid for what she has contributed to culture. Some have therefore advised her to keep schtum and not remind everyone that her efforts have made her a millionaire. Others have simply cheered at the prospect of her leaving Britain, just as they did when Andrew Lloyd Webber threatened to leave in 1997.

But Emin maintains that she is so disgusted that her bountiful earnings are to be taxed at 50% that she has considered moving to Provence where many former artists have lived and worked. And indeed it is mind blowing to think what Emin might be able to do with a sunflower, in the light of her previous efforts with inanimate objects.

Emin said that the government has failed to grasp the importance of the creative industries, especially of her brand of conceptual art. "At least in France they understand artists, and have traditionally helped them out."

However when the French government was questioned on the issue of Emin coming to France, a spokesman for the French Treasury replied that they were now considering a whole raft of emergency legislation that would ensure that the artist remained firmly on this side of the channel.

25 comments:

  1. Maybe the government should legislate on daylight robbery in the art world

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  2. I once lived in Provence and I know what the tax rate is France. That is why I moved to Britain.
    Tracey is in for a shock!

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  3. Good riddance!

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  4. Yes, the French respect artists.
    Does that mean they respect Emin?
    Not sure that the two are connected

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  5. What a c***
    She earns a fortune for the rubbish she calls conceptual art, then does not want to contribute to the society that educated her.
    Wonder who paid for her art school grant?

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  6. Judging by the comments left here, she is right about British attitudes to art. The trouble with England is that it treats the arts like sports.
    When the French call you an Artist, it feels like a compliment. When you say you’re an artist in England, it feels like you have just said you are a dull scrounging arse-wipe.
    Oh... and yes... I’m an artist

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  7. Apparently Cameron gave her a back handed compliment the other say by saying that he would like to have his portrait painted by her.
    You scratch my back... etc (what a horrible thought!)

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  8. Make sure you take your tent and bed with you dear...

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  9. Can Damien Hirst be persuaded to leave as well?

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  10. I have always been against high taxes, but I am having second thoughts

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  11. I live in France 6 months a year and the artists are complaining about cuts to subsidies by Sarkozy. So Tracey, love, how are you going to hide your millions to get around the French Wealth Tax?I bet you anything that she will still be a UK resident next year.She is just another greedy whinger.

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  12. Tracey Emin is to Art what VeganSue is to humour!
    (one for the old school there!)

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  13. I too live in France. It is good here... away from the likes of this disgusting pseudo-"talent"

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  14. The Treasury will now receive 0% - as opposed to 40% - of her 150,000+ salary as a result of its attempt to increase revenues.
    Gordon Brown was the biggest critic of the Tories decision to cut the top rate of tax, despite the fact that it increased tax revenues.
    Another clear example of his failure to learn and his financial imcompetence.

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  15. Whatever happened to Vegan Sue...?
    fond memories

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  16. I assumed you buried her under the patio, Brookside stylee!

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  17. No, I was too much onto a good thing to do that... provocative comments are good

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  18. This country needs wealth creators. Without businessmen, innovators, high earners the UK is doomed to mediocrity. We should be reducing tax rates to attract these people to establish business here. If we don't more will leave and Britain will never grow as an economy

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  19. Isn't Provence where Van Gogh cut off his ear?

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  20. Wonder whether she will come back if she needs the NHS

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  21. What's wrong with paying 50% when you earn 65K for a collection of junk?

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  22. Emin should do a spot more research on taxation first...
    The headline rate in France might be relatively low, but this will very much depend on the size of your family. Large families pay little income tax, whilst the balance is made up by high taxes on single people. Then there are the high property taxes and very high, income-related national insurance charges...
    So good luck, Trace dear!

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  23. Good riddance to the over-rated Miss Emin, and I will not shed any tears for hedge fund managers or obscenely overpaid, spoilt-brat footballers.

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  24. Emin is just a branding device. So are all celebs.... They are human commodities. People will pay money for the crap that gets churned out 'in their name'. She was created in much the same way Jade Goody was created - by a marketing impresario
    Have we yet had Tracey Emin perfume?

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  25. Apparently she is selling personalised neon signs at the Frieze art fair - selling at 65k each.
    Are there really mugs willing to pay that?

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