The Decorated Body - first prize winner Emma Louise Burton
Lauren Timsuwan had selected the student for the day’s training purely on the basis of the project submission and she was given no clues to the student artist. However Emma Louise Burton was undoubtedly a perfect candidate to study at the Bamboo Rooms.
Emma Louise explained, “I loved this project and was fascinated by it. I wanted to get away from the traditional tattoo/make up side of body decoration and explore the future of tattoos, like dermal implants and bio mechanical arms.
For my sculpture I covered a mannequin in modroc and gum strip. To highlight the old I new I rubbed in shellac furniture polish and ink so that one side looked ancient but on the reverse I made it all new with computer chips and trailing wires. I incorporated a digital photo frame which played photographs of tattoos. I thought the studio could show a portfolio of their work on here.
It took me about three weeks to make and a lot of stress went into it! But I am really pleased with the outcome and delighted to have won the prize. It is a perfect opportunity for me as I am so interested in the subject though I like to think I have earned it.
My boyfriend is a tattoo artist and I have thirteen tattoos including a full back piece. Tattoos are becoming more and more acceptable. Over half the students on this course have at least one tattoo and once people have one they want more. My Mum had her first one done recently and is already thinking about another one. It can get addictive but not in a bad way. A lot of people tell their life stories on their bodies. There is much more behind each tattoo than people think. I love hearing people’s stories about what the pieces they have had done mean to them.
Tattooing is a good career and I am sure it is one of the things I will do part-time, although I want to lecture in fine art at a college or university too. I will be staying at Bradford School of Arts & Media for another three years to do my BA (Hons) Fine Art from next September.”