Last week, for one evening, old church stairs were transformed by Clare Lynn.

Lynn has covered one side of the steep stairs with strings of LED lights. With the event starting at sunset, the place was slowly plunged into darkness but for strings of twinkling lights.

As she points out, the social part of the event was interesting with lots of visitors stopping, greeting and having conversations, bringing the otherwise dark and not often used place to life.

SEE THE VIDEO OF THE EVENT:

ENCHANTED CIRCUIT installation by Clare Lynn, review by Idea13

It was intensively dark yet magical in the Hockley Woods last night, despite the waxing moon. As soon as we arrived at the car park, we could see the streaks of tiny lights in the woods in front of us and hear the voices ahead. Not being able to see the path, we followed it trustingly like in the Hansel & Gretel fairytale.

800 LED light in total, they were hang in strings from the trees as well as placed in glass jars which the visitors were encouraged to take away. We walked among the trees and the light, bewildered by the dreamlike quality of the experience. Excited shrieks of the kids and quiet, lonely, meditating figures moving slowly, taking care not to bump into one another.

Slightly jealous of those who equipped themselves with torches for the journey, I begun to think their experience was spoilt somehow. The installation wasn’t about the ability to see, quite the contrary, it was about what you imagine.

After her installation on the Southend beach this June, Clare Lynn comes with another project – Enchanted Circuit – a one-off event in the Hockley Woods which can be viewed on Sunday between 6.30 – 9pm. Here Clare answers few questions for us:

What has led you to do this project?

As you may already know through other installations, I have gained a curiosity with certain locations that we avoid once darkness falls. Environments we would might become fearful of due to the lack of light be it natural or artificial, not only that they become ignored or forgotten lost in the darkness. I began to investigate woodland environments due to my own fear of entering a dark forest. They have an enchanted attachment to them and I want to play on that with this installation.

Is this an experiment for you or for the audience, how important is the audience for you?

It is meant for people to come and see. I want the viewer/audience to come and explore the installation and let their imagination run away with them and gain access to an area they would avoid in a normal situation.

What is the installation made of?

I will be using approximately 800 LEDs this time, along with glass jars and plenty of nylon thread – the rest is a surprise for the viewers. It is one of my most challenging projects to date, with a great deal of planning involved, along with applications to Rochford District Council, who have kindly let me use the woodland.

Directions: Hockley Woods - when you enter the car park (just before the Bull Inn), head for the far side and there will be signs and lights.

For Clare Lynn website CLICK HERE.