This sculpture, measuring 2.5 meters high and weighing just under a ton, was created through a mass participation project.
Since it’s inception in 2011, the Chandelier of Lost Earrings has connected with thousands of people. It tells hundreds of stories gifted in the form of a single, cherished earring – its pair having been lost. The individuality of these personal objects has been transcended, and the audience are captured by the depth and sheer beauty of the piece. Once drawn in, the details start to emerge and they become lost in their own imagined stories of each gifted object; stories of human emotion, memory, loss, beauty and love.
The work was created in collaboration with Sharon Campbell and initially stimulated through discussion with staff at St Mary’s Hospital (Central Manchester University Hospitals), where staff were asked to donate lone earrings, which had formerly been a pair, and which had some emotional resonance or significance for the wearer.
Earrings were gifted to the project alongside a few written words about the personal significance of the earrings. You can read some of the notes people sent in here.
Winner of the National Lottery Award, Arts Category, 2014 and the British Women Artists Award 2015.
This Project was part of the Tall Tales national tour, supported by Arts Council England, Grants for the Arts’ and Open Fund Grant, Creative Scotland’ and ‘Commissioned by Wewioraprojects (Elizabeth Wewiora and Helen Wewiora) 2015/16.
With further support from Link4Life and Camden Council,
Starting at Swiss Cottage Gallery & Library, London, and then moving to Touchstones Museum and Gallery, Rochdale and Glasgow Women’s Library, Glasgow
If you would like to exhibit the Chandelier of Lost Earrings, please contact us here. Thank you.
The Chandelier of Lost Earrings tour…….so far:
2019 Harris Museum And Art Gallery, Preston
2018 Manifesto, Manchester
2017 Grimsby Minster, Grimsby
2016 Glasgow Women’s Library, Glasgow
2016 Touchstones, Rochdale
2016 Swiss Cottage Library, London
2015 Macc Art Lounge, Macclesfield
2015 Enlighten Festival, Manchester Central Library
2015 Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival, Rochdale
2015 Piccadilly Place, Manchester
2015 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe
2014 Towneley Hall Gallery, Burnley
2014 Lime Arts, Manchester
2013 St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester
A few of the many places the Chandelier has visited: