Ananova:

A sculptor who makes animals out of carpet fluff, a man who videos parked cars and a woman who sings in supermarkets have been shortlisted for Britain's most lucrative art prize.

The 10 contenders for the Beck's Futures award were unveiled and have proved as off-the-wall as ever.

They include Brazilian artist Tonico Lemos Auad, who fashions squirrels, lions and cats from bits of fluff he scrapes off carpets.

His work "aims to turn the personal expression of daily experiences and perceptions into something magical".

Romanian-born Ergin Cavusoglu is a video artist who shoots surveillance-style film of London streets at night-time through his curtained windows, capturing images of parked cars, road signs and passers-by.

And Glaswegian Susan Philipsz' art involves walking into a Manchester Tesco or a Belfast bus station and performing unaccompanied versions of Radiohead, Rolling Stones and Nirvana tunes.

The shortlist also includes performance artist Nicoline Van Harskamp, from the Netherlands, whose work focuses on security guards.

Beck's nominees will exhibit their work at the ICA in central London and Van Harskamp's installation will consist of nightclub bouncers, hotel doormen and M&S store guards standing in the building during the exhibition.

The £65,000 prize fund includes £20,000 for the overall winner and £40,000 to be shared amongst the shortlisted artists.

The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in April 2004.