Madonna's love letter to Emin and Margate

Queen of Pop Madonna has said Margate – once a declining seaside resort – is her "idea of heaven".

The global icon posted pictures of an art exhibition on Instagram and paid homage to Tracey Emin, world-famous artist and her friend for more than 25 years, as a "pearl".

For years, Emin has championed her hometown with passionate support and her belief in its beauty, sunset and skies - the artist commented on the singer's post, saying Margate was attracting "so many cool, creative, interesting people".

The pop star said Emin had formed a creative community by the sea in Kent, giving opportunities to young artists, and wrote: "Whenever I go there, I feel like I've entered a dream."

In her post, Madonna revealed that she had always been a fan of Emin's "extremely personal and provocative work".

The best-selling recording artist said Emin had created something "quite remarkable" with her residency programme which gave young artists a place to paint and live for several months – people "who otherwise would have no place to paint and develop their talent".

Madonna, who forged her own career based on her own reinvention and passion for challenging societal norms, wrote: "I've been there a few times now and I'm always struck by the commitment and passion of all of these artists.

"Not only that, but the whole town seems to be inhabited and energized by creativity.

"Writers and performance artists, photographers, and painters. This is my idea of heaven."

Praising Margate, she said: "Whenever I go there, I feel like I've entered a dream.

"On top of all of that, I get to eat at my favorite Italian restaurant which I'm not giving anyone the name of because then everyone's going to go there."

The global superstar went on to write that it was good to share something that was "not about hatred and killing" but celebrated human connection - and the ability that art had to elevate people and to bring people together.

Later, Emin wrote: "So many cool, creative interesting people are visiting Margate."

Emin grew up in Margate in the 1970s, when the resort was still characterised by jellied eels, buckets and spades and Kiss Me Quick hats.

The artist herself later said by the 1980s the town had become a "no-go zone".

Like other resorts it had fallen into decline, with boarded-up shops, empty streets and derelict arcades.

After Madonna's post, Emin wrote that Margate had gone through a "major transformation" over the past 10 years.

She said it was due to artists, writers and musicians - "a whole wave of creativity".

Emin said the town had come back to life after years of abandonment, and said that new and old "Margatonians" alike were making it a positive and uplifting, charismatic town.

"So great Madonna visited - thank you," she wrote.

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