“If light is scarce then light is scarce; we will immerse ourselves in the darkness and there discover its own particular beauty.”
Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, In Praise of Shadows
The candle project is an ode to resilience, a celebration of shadow and light, an ancient ritual for our times.
Participants are invited to help make a tapered candle and cast words inside. As a candle slowly burns, remnant messages left behind become glimmering beacons of hope, whispers, for others to discover and take home.
The candle project is a spectacle and a participatory installation, built over a week by those who visit the space. With Abigail, participants assemble a traditional bees wax candle and place it amongst a large candle installation. A lighting ceremony at the end of the week marks a special moment, a communal burn, after a time of transition for many, perhaps unarticulated.
In a time when we are divided; socially & politically, the candle project offers spiritual exchanges for all secular and non-secular communities. It represents our fragility and mortality in action, and how, ultimately, connecting with others helps us carry on.
Developed with the support of the Arts Council England,The Spire and ACCA.
By Abigail Conway
Production Manager: Simon Booth
Installation Assistant: Ali Armstrong
Set Design & Build Tin Shed Scenery
Sound Design Ross Flight
Lighting Design Martin Langthorne
The candle project, toured to Dresden for an outside burn and opened the new Shakespeare North playhouse theatre in 2022.
Camera by Rosie Powell & Amina Yousif.
Editing by Amina Yousif
Singing by Isac Curtis
Photo’s by Rosie Powell & Rowan Briscoe