She's sleeping in public - I can't think of anything more exposed or vulnerable than that

Simon Smith, senior lecturer

Katherine, who has been studying for a foundation diploma in art and design at West Suffolk College, is tucked up under a duvet as visitors browse around a selection of work by her fellow students.

Health and safety regulations, though, mean she will have to go home at night.

"It's a lot to do with what I've been doing over the past year on my foundation course about exposure, making myself vulnerable," Katherine said.

"Putting something in the gallery in a frame in the wall didn't seem the right thing to do and sleeping in the gallery and having myself as the art seemed more appropriate."

'Intelligent work'

Senior lecturer in art and design at West Suffolk College, Simon Smith said Katherine's work did not expose art to ridicule.

She was questioning who she was and challenging notions about what art was, he said.

"I think what Katherine's doing is actually very sincere - and it's a very carefully thought through and intelligent piece of work," he said.

"What she's doing is taking this notion of the vulnerability of exposure that any artist experiences when they exhibit work in a gallery.

"And she's taking this to its logical extreme by exposing herself in a very vulnerable position.

"She's sleeping in public - I can't think of anything more exposed or vulnerable than that."