Lovers could be found crowding into Dalston’s Gillett Square to declare on giant placards how they felt about their significant others, offering an antidote to love in the Facebook era.

“I sometimes feel that in a world saturated by social media the most important messages can fall through the gaps, be forgotten and remain unsaid,” said organiser Jennifer Malarkey of her inspiration for the project. “I wanted to make something that was about communicating how we feel about each other, the world and those we love. Essentially it’s a project about love.”

Around 70 people turned out for the 14 October event and Ms Malarkey described the experience as “emotional, funny, weird and sometimes a bit dark”. Dan Bernard, 43, wrote on his placard: “I don’t know how it will all turn out … But hey I really love you.” Mr Bernard said: “It has surprised me how heartened and moved I was by this fantastic community project.”

The ‘Encounter’ event, played out below blue sky and bright sunshine, was organised by artistic director Ms Malarkey and filmmaker Jaha Browne, who both filmed the happening.

Footage was compiled to document the messages (available at encounterproductions.org). An under-25s version of the project is also happening at The British Film Institute on 9 November and a flash mob version is planned for 10 November at the Southbank.

Ms Malarkey said: “I got such a good feeling from the project. [People] couldn’t understand that we were making the film because we believed in love.”