08 December, 2023

In preparing for such a great event as the Hincks Centre's 10th Anniversary and its immense contribution to MTU over the years, the Team applied to the Create LeChéile funding call to commission a piece of art. 

The Create LeChéile initiative was established to support and develop ongoing connections through the Arts across the MTU community and to contribute to the advancement of MTU as an arts-rich Technological University. The programme strives to foster connections with external arts partners, festivals, organisations and artists. Through the vision and commitment of Sarah Morey, Arts Office at MTU, Trish Brennan, Head of Fine Art at MTU, together with the Head of the Hincks Centre embarked on finding a piece which would represent the past, present and future of Hincks, its people, work and impact. Not much to ask of a piece, to be fair!!

The Fine Art & Design multi-disciplinary studio run by Eoin Turner and Lorraine Mullins, both Crawford alumni, is firmly rooted in Cork with a global outlook. Eoin Turner has created a bespoke artwork that encapsulated the essence of the Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence, and the legacy of Reverend Thomas Dix Hincks. The work celebrates the notion of people and ideas, collaborative working, tangential growth, past achievements, and ambitions for the future.

We were honoured to have Eoin and Lorraine at the event as the beautiful piece from the world-famous artist (from just up the road) was unveiled!

Photography by Darragh Kane

A symbolic sculpture commemorating Hincks@10.

• The base: The unfinished structure at the base is made of repurposed local crystal, which captures Hincks’ strong foundations, founders, academic/evidence based research, education and training, past projects and early partnerships. The internal cubes and open space represent curiosity, innovation, growth and development well into the future.
• The Head: People are central to Hincks’ success. The outward looking head represents the team, students, management, partners, funders, supports and entrepreneurs. Without them - nothing is possible. The reflective nature of the polished bronze captures our capacity to think, while the polished stainless-steel ‘wires’ represent the 200+ partners from Ireland and far beyond and future collaborations not yet formed!
• The entire piece: The silhouette form of 'head on plinth' is a nod to history and the traditional form of honouring great works and actions. Acknowledging the visionary work of the Rev Thomas Dix Hincks, who trained young entrepreneurs in Cork circa 1800, this unique sculpture will adorn our office, reminding us of the past 10 years and a great future supporting entrepreneurship in all its forms, at MTU and far beyond.