Everyone I’ve Ever Slept With 1963-1995                                                                                                                                                     1995, Installation

In the late 1960’s, Dorothy Iannone published the artists book Lists (IV): A More Detailed Than Requested Reconstruction - from The Book of D & D, containing a list of everyone she’d ever slept with, complete with illustrations.

In 1995, Tracey Emin exhibited Everyone I’ve Ever Slept With 1963-1995, a tent that had the names of everyone Temin had slept with appliquéd onto the interior surface of it.

Although both pieces have their obvious differences, both offer a refreshing openness and frankness about the personal, something that is often excluded in art for the sake of ‘higher ideals’. By openly providing such personal details, these artists combat a more reserved posture, one which seems surprised that anyone sleeps with anyone else at all. It’s not the banality of the ‘events’ themselves, it’s the telling of them that shocks, opening up a discourse on storytelling, narrative, who-to-tell and how-much-to-tell, a discourse which defines what we could call ‘polite society’.

Art as Art project
Established 2007 Melbourne, Australia

Make your own 'Everyone I've Slept With' Pillowcase
2008, screenprint and embroidered pillowcase
70 x 50 cm

In 2008, The Art as Art Project paid homage to both Dorothy Iannone and Tracey Emin by producing Make Your Own – Everyone I’ve Slept With Pillowcase, a ruled and lined pillowcase inviting you to contribute your own openness to society (or just yourself).