Taylor-Wood, tailor-made

Not yet ten years into her career, with a vote for most promising artist at 1997's Venice Biennale, a nomination for the 1998 Turner Prize and a series of major shows already under her belt, Sam Taylor-Wood (right, in a self-portrait) attains another acknowledgement of serious art-world status by being offered a solo show at one of London's major public spaces, the Hayward Gallery.

Covering work from 1993 to the present day, Taylor-Wood's show features her self-portraits and staged films and photographs featuring friends, unknowns and often a roster of famous names including Ray Winstone and Marianne Faithfull. Bringing in references from film, religion and media imagery, all of Taylor-Wood's works in some way also home in on life's fears, insecurities and uncomfortable emotions. Shot with a 360-degree camera, 'Five Revolutionary Seconds' is a series of 25ft-long photos showing a series of seemingly affluent people who, despite their plush surroundings, appear isolated and alone. In 'Piet?' the artist struggles to hold a limp Robert Downey Jr in her arms. In 'Brontosaurus' a naked man is filmed bouncing around to techno music. Shown in slow motion and with the original soundtrack replaced by Samuel Barber's mournful 'Adagio For Strings', a different kind of vulnerability is exposed.

Sam Taylor-Wood, from Thur 25 April, Hayward Gallery , South Bank, SE1 (020-7960 5226)