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Sam Taylor-Wood

Sue Lawley's castaway is artist Sam Taylor-Wood.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the artist Sam Taylor-Wood. She is known for her photography and short films, including 'David' - a film of the footballer David Beckham sleeping - and her 365-degree photograph that was wrapped around the Selfridges store in central London. She is one half of art's most glamorous couple - her husband is the art dealer Jay Jopling.

Her route into art was scattered and uncertain. Although she knew she wanted to study art, she ended up taking a BTech in fashion before studying art at Goldsmiths. In 1997 she was awarded a prize as the most promising new artist at the Venice Biennale, but the same year saw the birth of her daughter and within months she was diagnosed with colon cancer. She fought it off only to find within a few years, that she was suffering from breast cancer. She emerged from illness with a major show at the Haywood Gallery - said to be the youngest person to be granted a retrospective there. She now says that her illness has given her a drive to keep working - and to do whatever seems the most fun.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Tiny Dancer by Elton John
Book: Birthday Letters by Ted Hughes
Luxury: Karaoke machine

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 21 Jan 2005 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Elton John

      Tiny Dancer

      • Madman Across the Water.
      • DJM.

  • Nina Simone

    Wild is the Wind

    • Gold.
    • Universal.

  • The Rolling Stones

    Sympathy For The Devil

    • Sympathy for the Devil.
    • ABKCO.

  • Christoph Willibald Gluck

    Ah, se intorno a quest'urna funesta (from Orpheus and Euridice)

    Soloist: Jochen Kowalski Choir: Berlin Radio Chorus Orchestra: Berlin Radio Chamber Orchestra

    • Orfeo and Euridice.
    • Capriccio.

  • SimΓ³n DΓ­az

    Tonada de Luna Llena

    Soloist: Caetano Veloso

    • Fina Estampa.
    • Philips.

  • Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

    Black Hair

    • The Boatman's Call.
    • Mute.

  • Johnny Cash

    One

    • American. Vol 3: Solitary Man.
    • American.

  • Rufus Wainwright

    Vibrate

    • Want One.
    • Dreamworks.

  • Book Choice

    • Birthday Letters - Ted Hughes

  • Luxury Choice

    • Karaoke machine

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Sam Taylor-Wood

Broadcasts

  • Sun 16 Jan 2005 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 21 Jan 2005 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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