Today (27 June) Insights – a global learning and development business – unveils its Oor Wullie sculpture at Dundee’s iconic Discovery Point, as part of The Oor Wullie Bucket Trail, a public art event to raise funds for The ARCHIE Foundation’s Tayside appeal.
One of the most visible sculptures of the trail, Insights’ involvement supports the charitable collaboration between The ARCHIE Foundation, DC Thomson and Wild in Art to raise funds for the Children’s Theatre Suite at Tayside Children’s Hospital.
Insights’ in-house creative studio team collaborated with Aberdeen-based artist and illustrator, Gabrielle Reith, who has previously been commissioned by the National Trust of Scotland, Aberdeen Maritime Museum and Dundee Contemporary Arts. The resulting sculpture, titled “Oor wai ‘o’ spikin”, is adorned with words that represent Insights’ foundation in learning, personal and professional development and Jungian psychology, translated into Scottish dialect spelling.
A key phrase integrated into the sculpture, “Git tae ken yersel, git tae ken ithirs, dae guid in the world”, is taken from Insights’ organisational purpose, to: “Create a world where people understand themselves, understand others and are inspired to make a positive difference in everything they do.”
The location is significant to Insights because of the organisation’s proud Dundee heritage (founded by father and son Andi and Andy Lothian in 1993) and its flagship learning solution, Insights Discovery, named after the RRS Discovery.
Insights Chief Executive Andy Lothian said: “It’s an honour to support the city of Dundee and the ARCHIE Foundation in a way that is so significant to our organisation. In many ways, Discovery Point marks the start of Insights’ journey and our sculpture, stunningly realised by artist Gabrielle Reith, represents both our journey as an global organisation and our work to enable individual journeys through self-awareness.”
Andy added: “As a proud Dundee business for over 20 years, we like to think we’re doing our part to add one more ‘J’ to Dundee’s historical business landscape – jute, jam, journalism and jungian psychology.”
Andy was joined at the reveal of Insights’ contribution to The Oor Wullie Bucket Trail by Gill Poulter, Dundee Heritage Trust Exhibitions Director, who has responsibility for the RRS Discovery, and artist Gabrielle Reith.
Project Manager for The Oor Wullie Bucket Trail Neil Cooney said: “Insights’ sculpture represents our most earnest intentions for the collaborative nature of this project. When artists, businesses and iconic Dundee landmarks come together like this, the resulting art is deeply meaningful and impactful.”
Neil added: “Supporting The Oor Wullie Bucket Trail is one way we all can ‘dae guid’ for Dundee and The ARCHIE Foundation.”
More than 50 Oor Wullie sculptures, each uniquely designed and decorated, are on display throughout Dundee and Tayside for 10 weeks, before being auctioned to fund raise for the ARCHIE Foundation.
