Spike Island is proud to host RECCE, an exhibition created by students and art teachers from the Education Unit in Cork Prison (Cork ETB). This exhibition continues a meaningful collaboration between Spike Island and the Cork Prison Education Unit, now in its eleventh year.
The word recce, derived from military slang for reconnaissance, evokes close observation and exploration. True to its name, this exhibition unfolds in two reciprocal parts, offering a visual narrative shaped by close inspection, memory and interpretation. It showcases the remarkable depth and diversity of creativity nurtured within the prison’s educational programmes.
The artworks on display in one of the cells at Spike Island are the culmination of a collaborative group project undertaken during the 2024–2025 academic year. For several years, the ceramic and textile classes in the Education Unit have worked closely together, producing mixed-media pieces—wall hangings and sculptures—that interweave personal stories and shared memory.
This year’s theme explores the natural world of Ireland. Each student selected a favourite wild animal or plant and expressed their ideas through personal sculptures or two-dimensional textile works. Using Visual Thinking Strategies, students observed and interpreted their environment—drawing on memory and imagination to create, even within the confines of prison life.
The resulting works are imaginative, often humorous and always deeply personal—blending the representational with the fantastical to form a striking exhibition.
