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A new sculpture commissioned to mark the opening of the
Institute of Mental Health building, on The University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus, is set to be officially unveiled this week.
The sculpture, entitled
House for a Gordian Knot, was made by sculptor Ekkehard Altenburger out of Italian Carrara marble and now sits outside the Institute’s headquarters on Triumph Road.
The Institute is the UK’s prime location for inter-disciplinary research in the mental health field. It was established in 2006 by partner organisations, The University of Nottingham and
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.
Planning for the sculpture began in 2011 and saw an open invitation to artists in February 2012 to apply for the commission. More than £30,000 was raised towards the project with significant funding received from the Arts Council, among others.
The six tonne sculpture, which rises nearly three metres in height, is set to be officially unveiled on Thursday 13 June 2013 from 12.15pm by Lord Ramsbotham GCB CBE, a former Chief Inspector of Prisons who works with the Centre for Health and Justice within the Institute of Mental Health.
Design riddle
Ekkehard Altenburger said: “After some initial sketches, I started to work on a three-dimensional model, which led to the form of a sculpture, which I gave the name House for a Gordian Knot. The riddle of designing a sculpture for the new Institute of Mental Health building was in the end elegantly resolved and the name naturally grew towards the sculpture. It will also be a reminder for both patients and practitioners to 'think outside the box' and this sculpture will hopefully provide a daily inspiration for both patients as well as staff.
“I am absolutely delighted with the result and hope that the sculpture will become an intricate part of the Jubilee Campus and bring a smile and inspiration to those who pass it.”
The project was co-ordinated by Dr Victoria Tischler, Arts Co-ordinator at the Institute of Mental Health, who has staged a number of arts exhibitions at the Institute since 2009.
Central to the sculpture project was the involvement of mental health service users and offcuts from the main block of marble have been used by members of the Thursday Arts Group in Nottingham as part of their arts programme. The official unveiling will be attended by members of the Thursday Arts Group and representatives from partner organisations.
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottinghamhas 42,000 students at award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. It was ‘one of the first to embrace a truly international approach to higher education’, according to the Sunday Times University Guide 2013. It is also one of the most popular universities among graduate employers, one of the world’s greenest universities, and winner of the Times Higher Education Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’. It is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 75 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong and the QS World Rankings.
More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. The University aims to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health. The University won a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its research into global food security.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest ever fundraising campaign, will deliver the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…