Highcross unveils ‘Stranded Heart’

Published:  30 August, 2011

An iconic sculpture symbolising the on-going work to build a brand new Cardiovascular Research Centre (CRC) in Leicester has been unveiled at Highcross.

‘Stranded Heart’ comes to Highcross as the University of Leicester launches the public phase of an appeal to raise the final £1m required to complete and equip a brand new CRC at Glenfield Hospital. The new state-of-the-art £12.6m research centre will impact radically on both the scale and quality of research and treatment of cardiovascular disease across the UK. 

The sculpture – by artist Diane Maclean – was kindly donated to the university by a supporter of the appeal. Stranded Heart will remain at Highcross until moving to its permanent home at the CRC.

Jo Tallack, general manager at Highcross said: “We’re thrilled to be able to house the Stranded Heart sculpture at Highcross. It’s a real honour to be a part of such a worthwhile appeal and to work with the University of Leicester in this way.

“For much of the community, Highcross is considered to be the heart of Leicester, so it seemed natural to house the sculpture here in such a prominent location and raise awareness of the life-saving work supported by the CRC.”

In another art display at Highcross, a giant mosaic of India National Cricket Team’s Sachin Tendulkar has been created at the centre – made entirely from Leicester-sourced fabric.

Designed to welcome the Indian National Cricket Team to Leicester for their Twenty20 match against Leicestershire County Cricket Club on August 29, the huge floor art (9m x 6m in size) has been created by renowned Leicester-based artist Laura Hadland, who is famed for working with unusual materials, such as toast.

The detailed image has been made using 100 yards of fabric and took 9.5 hours to create.