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Installation: Chandelier Artist: Lulu Quinn

Trail map location

Kingsgate Bridge

The inspiration for Lulu Quinn's piece came from the writings of the Venerable Bede where he describes a vision by St Cuthbert:

On a sudden he saw a long stream of light break through the darkness of the night, and in the midst of it a company of the heavenly host descended to the earth, and having received among them a spirit of surpassing brightness, returned without delay to their heavenly home.
Lulu Quinn

The text has been arranged in the form of a chandelier with an English version laid out left to right, an Arabic translation from right to left and finally in the centre a vertical drop of Japanese characters. The chandelier will be suspended under one of the highest bridges in Durham, the Kingsgate Bridge, so that it is reflected, mirrored and distorted in the water below and the words appear to float away from view.

The text can be seen as a direct reference to Durham’s importance as a religious and spiritual centre, but can also be interpreted as referring to individual enlightenment through the use of language.

Lulu is an experienced artist working within the public realm, creating both temporary and permanent site-specific artworks.

I treat each project as a blank canvas, drawing on the local context to establish a sense of identity and involving the local community wherever possible to create a sense of ownership and inclusion.
Lulu Quinn

Her work has taken many forms including interactive light and sound sculptures, digital photographs laser etched in stone, interactive video sculptures and computer controlled glass and sound virtual water features. The scale of her work has also varied from commanding stainless steel landmark structures to small-scale sound installations.