Stories of Cork shine bright

The final installation of Island City, Cork’s Urban Sculpture Trail has been unveiled. Tempus Futurum by Brian Kenny is a light projection, which includes ideas from 50 local children on the Triskel Arts Centre, that takes viewers on a journey through the building’s history.

The digitally mapped, moving image artwork is projected onto the South Main Street façade of the Georgian building, which is over 300 years old. Each evening from dusk, the 10 minute looped moving visuals are projected.

Tempus Futurum is inspired by the motto 'A society thrives when elders plant trees under whose shade they'll never rest'. It delves into past, present, and an imminent future, exploring human impact on the environment. Scenes link human actions to nature's fate, with input from local school children. The interactive finale reflects sustainability, and the link between human choices and nature's balance. It's a reflection on the city's growth, urging people to consider today's impact on tomorrow's landscapes.

Speaking about the installation, Brian Kenny, Video Artist and Projection Mapping specialist said: “I was really inspired by the history of the Triskel building and connecting that with the local environment while looking to the future.

“We worked with 50 local children from St Maries of Isle National School, thanks to the support from Aoife O’Connell, to get their ideas on the future of the Triskel building. Our aim with this work is to mirror the relationship that the people of Cork have with their city and its evolution. We hope that it highlights the lasting impact of today's actions, urging introspection and emphasising our role in shaping tomorrow's landscapes,” he said.

It is the finale in a cultural trail of five contemporary sculptures installed around Cork city this year that aims to integrate art into the daily life of the city. The trail includes Sentinels on Carey’s Lane, Boom Nouveau on Cook St, The Face Cup on the corner of Princes St and Oliver Plunkett St, and Urban Mirror on Cornmarket Street.

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy, said: "The final installation, Tempus Futurum, is a reflection of the heritage and history of one of the city’s oldest buildings. It is known that a building has existed on the site of Christ Church for nearly a thousand years. We invite everyone to experience this captivating installation and artwork and reflect upon the building’s role in shaping not only the history of this great city but also the future of our city and its rich cultural heritage and arts sector,” he said.