Aberystwyth student's prestigious art award

Lauren's practice is concerned with concepts of identity and ideas of self

An Aberystwyth student has won a prestigious award for Welsh art students worth £10,000.

Lauren Elena Sarreas-Webb, who is a student at Aberystwyth University School of Art has won the 2010 Safle Graduate Award.

This annual £10,000 award provides an opportunity for the artist's professional development.

Lauren will begin the Safle Graduate Award project after graduating this summer.

I haven't decided what the project will be although it could include handing out wigs to people so that they can achieve the same level of escapism Lauren Elena Sarreas-Webb

According to Lauren, 21, who is originally from Wetherby in Yorkshire, her art is concerned with concepts of identity and ideas of self.

Her work involves taking on different personae and becoming them as part of her day-to-day life.

Escapism

She said: "The cultivation of a suitable setting is as important, if sometimes not more important as the work itself.

"I have appointed myself as an instrument of expression in installations, photographs, short films, paintings and prose.

"By characterising elements of myself in the shell of others I am afforded a certain level of escapism.

Lauren is influenced by artists such as Cindy Sherman and Eleanor Antin

"Working in the context of a pop culture driven world, I see my work as relevant to anyone who recognises what it means to be alone: viewing life on prints and screens, living life through other people whether they be real or constructed."

Influenced by artists such as Cindy Sherman, Eleanor Antin and Pipilotti Rist, Lauren plans to use the money to implement her work across Wales.

"I haven't decided what the project will be although it could include handing out wigs to people so that they can achieve the same level of escapism.

"I am delighted to receive the award and am excited about continuing my work in the public realm with guidance from Safle."

Award

The judging panel were excited by Lauren's contemporary take on public realm interventions and the possibilities for her work to develop further in this direction.

Nine Welsh art colleges were invited to nominate up to three visual art BA students due to graduate in 2010 to enter for the award.

Their task was to implement a temporary site-specific artwork in the public realm within Wales.

Safle is a Wales-based independent public art consultancy. Its award manager, Cinzia Mutigli, said: "We are looking forward to seeing how Lauren's work progresses and what emerges through her graduate award project.

"We hope that Safle's support and mentorship will be a valuable contribution to her continuing professional development."

Six students were short-listed for the award - one from Coleg Menai in Bangor, one from Trinity College in Carmarthen, two from University of Wales in Cardiff, one from University of Wales Newport and one from Aberystwyth University School of Art.