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Sculpture symbolising healing and medicine to be unveiled on Tuesday 3 March at 6pm

A sculpture by an internationally recognised artist is set to be unveiled by the University of Leicester at Highcross next week as the symbol for the University’s Centre for Medicine Appeal.

‘Renewal’, which will be unveiled on Tuesday 3 March, will be hosted by Highcross as the University of Leicester continues to fundraise for a new state-of-the-art Centre for Medicine Building. The £42 million Centre, which represents the largest investment in applied research and medical teaching by any UK university in the last decade, will have a significant impact on the training of future doctors, the fight against chronic disease, and revolutionising patient care in Leicester and beyond.

The sculpture, by artist Diane Maclean, was commissioned by the University as the symbol of the Appeal. Utilising Diane’s existing sculpture ‘Ovum’, which was previously displayed at the University’s 2013 Sculpture in the Garden exhibition at the Botanic Garden, ‘Renewal’ has a snake as its central element, symbolising healing and medicine. The periodic renewal of a snake’s skin has long associated snakes with healing, making the sculpture a fitting symbol for the £10 million public fundraising appeal. 

Professor Nick London, Head of the University’s Department of Medical and Social Care Education explained: “The new Centre for Medicine will have a tremendous impact on patients and students alike, the educational environment is critical to how well we educate our doctors and in turn care for patients and their families – transforming patient care locally, nationally and around the world. By 2018 the doubling time for medical knowledge will be 80 days, we will certainly need therefore to regularly renew our curriculum – just like the snake’s skin.”

‘Renewal’ will be unveiled by Professor London to an audience of supporters, academics, patients, students as well as some Leicester Tigers rugby players in support of the Appeal. The sculpture will remain at the upper mall of Highcross by John Lewis until moving to its permanent home at the Centre for Medicine, which is set to open on Lancaster Road in the autumn.

Mark Colton, Deputy General Manager at Highcross said:  “We’re thrilled to be able to host the ‘Renewal’ sculpture at Highcross in support of the Centre for Medicine Public Appeal and help raise awareness of the work that it will do when the Centre is complete. It’s a real honour to be a part of such a worthwhile appeal, to work with the University of Leicester and help them achieve their fundraising goal of £10 million."

Diane previously created ‘Stranded Heart’ for the University’s Cardiovascular Research Centre Appeal, which now sits above the entrance of the £12.6 million research centre at Glenfield Hospital.

Diane said: “I was delighted and challenged when asked to design a sculpture for fundraising for the University’s new Centre for Medicine. I feel a special pleasure in being able to contribute in my own way to this wonderful project. The challenge was in finding a symbol for the very wide range of medical skills the new Centre will embody. 'Renewal' is a rethinking in a contemporary sculpture of the renowned symbol for medicine and healthcare, familiar throughout the world. Here it is enclosed within an egg, a symbol itself of new life. 

“I am privileged to have been connected to the University of Leicester over many years through exhibiting my sculpture in the University's Botanic Garden and having previously contributed to the appeal for the Cardiovascular Research Centre with ‘Stranded Heart’. My best wishes go to the fundraising enterprise.”

Steve O’Connor, Director of Development at the University of Leicester added: “We are delighted with the support we have already received for the Centre for Medicine from individuals, trusts, community groups and organisations, all of which will help us to complete and equip this wonderful facility.

“The Centre for Medicine is giving the University the opportunity to train future generations of doctors to improve patient care and fight chronic disease. It is great that Diane has been able to capture with her symbolic sculpture the essence of the project which will save many lives in Leicester and beyond.”

To make a £5 donation to the Centre for Medicine Appeal, text TMRW15 £5 to 70070, to watch the Appeal fundraising video, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS1UkZNNEwI or for more information about the Appeal, visit www.le.ac.uk/savinglives 

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