Details

First Name

Sarah Elizabeth

Last Name

Messenger

Username

waffleburger

Website

http://www.sarahmessenger.co.uk

Region

Edinburgh & The Lothians

Disciplines

Painting

Themes

Environment, Identity, Political, Narratives

Statement

Statement

Waffle Burger is a contemporary painter based in Edinburgh, known for her evocative and dynamic works that explore the subcultures found on the internet. Her works delve deep into the digital age, where she captures the essence of online communities and the ephemeral nature of digital interactions. By focusing on these subcultures, Waffle Burger brings to light the hidden and often overlooked aspects of our modern, interconnected world.

 

Creating works that reflect the realms of liminal spaces, where the familiar and the unknown intermingle, she pushes the boundaries of traditional art. Her paintings often depict scenes that are simultaneously recognizable and mysterious, inviting viewers to question their perceptions and engage with the art on a deeper level. Using various painting techniques, from traditional oil painting to airbrushed acrylic, each composition is meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of anemoia and refuge.

 

A significant aspect of her creative process involves sourcing imagery from online archives, traditional painting, tumblr and art history which she skillfully collages together to form the basis of her paintings. This method allows her to weave together disparate elements, creating rich, layered works that resonate with the complexities of digital culture. Her initial use of collage before translating them to paint on canvas not only adds depth to her compositions but also underscores the fragmented and transient nature of internet subcultures.

 

Her works aim to capture transient moments and elusive atmospheres, offering a refuge from the chaos of everyday life. Waffle Burger’s art invites viewers to pause and reflect on the fleeting nature of time and the spaces we inhabit. Through her unique blend of styles and themes, she creates a visual dialogue that resonates with a diverse audience, bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds.

Biography

Biography

Waffle Burger (b1985) is a contemporary artist based in Edinburgh specialising in painting, known for her evocative and dynamic works that explore the subcultures found on the internet. Graduated from Duncan College of Jordanstone, Dundee and Leith School of Art, Edinburgh.

Education:

2021-2023: Painting course, Leith School of Art, Edinburgh

2005-2008: Time Based Art (BA hons), Duncan of Jordanstone, Dundee

 

Selected awards and residencies:

2024: Coward Grant Award, Edinburgh

2023-24 Post-graduate Residency, Leith school of Art, Edinburgh

2023 Painting prize, Leith School of Art, Edinburgh

2022 Tate Late Photography Open Call, London

2012 NEon Residency, HMC, Dundee

Selected exhibitions:

2024 Graduate Residency final exhibition, Custom House Gallery, Edinburgh

GP Plus / The Bridge award, Gp Plus, Edinburgh

Interim Exhibition, Leith School of Art, Edinburgh

2023 From the Big Splash to the Last Splash, iota Gallery Glasgow

I’ve Never Met Anyone Quite Like You Before (group exhibition), Queens Park Railway Club, Glasgow

Portraits of Order & Chaos (group exhibition), The Life Room Gallery, Edinburgh

2022 Surrealism Beyond Borders (Tate Late Open Call), Tate, London

2012 0800-DRM-GRLZ (residency show), NEon Residency, HMC, Dundee

B.Y.O.Beamer (group exhibition), Glue Factory, Glasgow

2010 A Life Without Leo (solo exhibition), The Bunhouse Gallery, London