Lauren Sagar and Sharon Campbell’s The Chandelier of Lost Earrings has been named as the winner in the Best Arts Project category of the 2014 National Lottery Awards, following a public vote.
Made from more than 3,000 single earrings, donated by people who have lost the other half of the pair, the sculpture is 2.5 metres tall and was first exhibited in the courtyard of St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester before going on to tour the country.
Those who contributed an earring to the project also shared, via letters, the story attached to it, revealing why the piece of jewellery was so meaningful to them. These narratives have become an essential part of the artwork’s legacy. Part memento mori, part celebration, The Chandelier of Lost Earrings lends tangible form to the condition of remembering whilst also connecting to a wider community of women.
Lauren Sagar and Sharon Campbell have been working together as Sagar and Campbell since 2005. Based in Manchester at Rogue Studios, they work in both the fields of contemporary visual art and architectural glass design, making sculpture, installation and interventions in gallery spaces and public settings.
Favourite funded projects
The National Lottery Awards are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. Lottery players raise £33 million each week for projects all across the UK.
The awards, now in their twelfth year, recognise the difference that Lottery-funded projects have made to people, places and communities all across the UK. In total, 430,000 grants that have been made since 1994.
Awards are given across seven categories: Art, Education, Environment, Health, Heritage, Sport and Charity/Voluntary. The winners in each of the seven categories will be invited to an awards event to be broadcast on BBC One.
In addition to the Lottery funding they have already been awarded, the winners will each receive a £2,000 cash prize to spend on their project.
The Chandelier of Lost Earrings will be on display at Towneley Hall Art Gallery & Museum, Burnley until 24 September 2014. visitlancashire.com
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