1992 saw the global breakthrough of contemporary British art when art collector and promoter Charles Saatchi stuck the label ‘Young British Artists’ on a group of up-and-coming talents, who rode the waves of Cool Britannia, with a lot of PR savvy and sensation, to international fame.
Their favourite themes: sex, death, religion. Damien Hirst preserved sharks and cows sawn in half. Tracy Emin exhibited her unmade bed. One of the most articulate of these Young British Artists is Sarah Lucas. She made a Christ on the cross from cigarette ends, a T-shirt with two fried eggs over the breasts, and a neon coffin.
As her 50th birthday approaches, Lucas looks back. Director Elisa Miller follows the chain-smoking, heavy-drinking artist in the run-up to a big solo exhibition in Mexico. She switches constantly between Lucas’ home – a country house that once belonged to composer Benjamin Britten – and Central America, where the artist eagerly absorbs all of the exotic influences.
Film details
- Countries of production
- Mexico, UK
- Year
- 2014
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2014
- Length
- 76"
- Medium/Format
- DCP
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