Tracey Emin's controversial career in retrospective

It's difficult to believe that it's two decades or more since Brit Art began its assault on the contemporary art world. Last week saw the opening of the much-anticipated Tracey Emin retrospective at London's Hayward Gallery. The exhibition features an eclectic array of work from the controversial 47-year-old British artist executed in a variety of media.

Included in the exhibition, which runs until August 29, are hand-embroidered blankets, neon signs, mono-prints, video, installations and some of Emin's personal items.

Among the highlights are the ashes of art work she had on sale at her private business, The Shop. Emin burnt the remaining works so they could never be recreated.

However, two of the artist's most famous works are missing from the exhibition.

My Bed, an installation of an unmade bed, which was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1999, is currently in the possession of the collector Charles Saatchi. And her infamous embroidered tent was destroyed in a 2004 warehouse fire. The exhibition also features new work, including a heart-shaped neon sign reading "Love is What You Want".

Speaking to the press before the opening, Emin said she was happy with her life's work so far. However she hinted some of her future work may not be so personal or outrageous.

"There are a lot of things that I did earlier in my career I wouldn't do now. Not because I don't have the confidence, but more because now I know the repercussions of doing that," she said.