Elephant in the Room Gallery
Elephant in the Room: Art Competition Gallery
Thank you to everyone who entered — your creativity, talent, and unique interpretations of the theme have truly blown us away. From bold statements to quiet reflections, each piece adds its own voice to the conversation and helps bring the "elephant in the room" into the light.
This gallery is a celebration of your work. Whether you're here to browse, reflect, or be inspired, we hope you enjoy exploring the powerful, playful, and thought-provoking entries submitted by both staff and student artists.
Thank you for being part of this project
Flora Support
Winning Design
Name: Fíona Rutledge
Occupation: DCU Student
Title: Floral Support
‘Floral Support’ is a design inspired by the support system provided by relationships with other people. This design emphasises on how the support of loved ones can hold us together and brighten the day. Each piece of flora in this design has its own special meaning in flower language - the red rose represents romantic love, the azalea flower for family and zinnias for friendship. Other plants such as ivy, sunflowers and daisies symbolize positive outcomes that blossom from healthy relationships, such as loyalty, joy and cheerfulness. The gold oak leaf crown represents strength - the strength to reach out and keep going, even if it seems like the world is cracking.
Milo - The blooming elephant
Runner Up
Name: Anna Zieba-McLoughlin
Occupation: Staff
Elephant name: Milo
Description: Milo is the a plant baby. His roots are what keeps him growing. Each root colour represents a part of his life that makes him happy and keeps him going every day. Pink represents family and friends that are at the centre of his life and are very important to him. Yellow represents music that can easily change his mood when he feels down or anxious. Turquoise blue represents nature which he loves very much, he enjoys hiking and spending time by the water, the sounds of nature relaxes him. Finally purple represents are and other small pleasures. When he gets enough of all those things, he starts to bloom and his skins turns into a colourful meadow.
Harmony in Strength
Name: Swetha Shankar Ganesh Moorthi
Occupation: Student
Description: I'm Swetha Shankar, a postgraduate student pursing M.Sc in Finance. I'm a person with multiple interests and facets, seeking strength in various aspects of life. This diversity is reflected in my elephant design, where each section represents something that empowers me during challenging times.
The MANDAL PATTERNS symbolise mental wellbeing, inspired by Indian Art, promoting balance and mindfulness. The OCEAN THEME on the four legs, with waves and sea elements, represents the peace and calm that waves bring me.
The elephant is divided into different sections, each depicting aspects of life that provide me strength. This design illustrates my multi-personality and different sources of strength that keeps me balanced and resilient in difficult times.
Rosa
Name: Angela Finn (student)
Occupation: DCU Student
My design was inspired by walks in The National Botanical Gardens in Glasnevin (I appreciate its proximity to DCU). While I'm there, I find myself going back in time to the simpler days of my childhood when the world felt less daunting.
The elephant's name is Rosa; the scent of rose oil is reputed to relieve depression.
Ms Obvious
Name: Anne Leung
Occupation: DCU Student
Title: Ms. Obvious
Description: Every day, I encounter these pictograms. To someone unaccustomed to them, the symbols can induce a bit of panic. Like mental health discussions, they are often met with apprehension - a nervous laugh, shifting feet. Yet, they are clear, unapologetically loud, and as I learned their meanings, they allowed me to safely navigate the lab with confidence - reminders that knowledge, and awareness are key to overcoming challenges. Likewise, the message on mental health isn’t something to ignore. It’s time to address the elephant in the room and change the narrative, so that fear is replaced by confidence, and support for mental well-being becomes the norm.
Bali
name: Leila Alilich
Occupation: Student
Name of Elephant: Bali (means Strength in Sanskrit)
Description:
The elephant represents the strength of a person. With its imperfections comes perfection, its challenges in looking unique and different yet it still shines with its bravery, strength, and courage. The sun on the head represents the strength greatly as many can agree the sun is one of the most powerful things we see daily. I chose a nature theme to showcase the elephant in its natural element as ell as the fact that nature is the clear definition of having its own challenges, yet having the strength to inhabit all types of species on this planet.
"Muintir"
Name: Vanisri Kirubakaran
Occupation: Student
Elephant name: "Muintir" (Irish for Family)
Elephant Description:
In challenging times, the people closest to my heart—my family, friends, and cousins—give me strength. Their unwavering support reminds me that no matter what, they are always there, filling me with confidence and hope. Their love and encouragement give me the courage to keep moving forward. I have expressed this bond through my elephant named "Muintir" (Irish for Family). The design features shades of blue, transitioning from light to dark, symbolizing resilience and growth. Warli art represents the important people in my life, their presence forming a strong and connected impact and presence in me. Intricate mandala designs weave through the artwork, reflecting harmony, unity, and the deep connections that keep me going.
Patrick
Name: Kate McCauley
Occupation: Staff
Elephant Name: Patrick
Description: My elephant in the room was inspired by the idea that people need support to maintain their mental wellbeing. The trunk states, 'Gain the strength of an eilifint with support from...' and then each area of the elephant suggests different ways that people can strengthen their wellbeing, whether that's through their faith, family & friends, remaining focused, having fun, enjoying flora & fauna, or by sharing their feelings. The elephant intentionally features gaeilge and celtic symbols, is non-denominational, and represents an ethnically diverse modern Ireland.
The Inclusion Elephant
Name: Trevor Boland
Occupation: Staff
Description: In a nutshell this Elephant is not the silent type. They represent all the past Elephants that were in the room who are no longer silent. The time for the Elephant is to be loud and proud of the diversity that one was weighed down by stigma but now raises its head to the sun. The patterns on the Elephant represent Black Pride, LGBTIA+ and Disability pride - we are more than the sum of our parts and they are all beautiful parts that belong in this world. Inclusion Elephant is about celebrating all the differences that make up who we are and what we can become and the continuing need for society to evolve with us as we grow together. The Elephant goes beyond the room and into the world
Connecting Aurora
Name: Frank Quinn
Occupation: Staff
Name of Elephant: Connecting Aurora
Description:
I do a lot of running, mostly at night, its great for fitness and for clearing my head. So I get to look up and see the stars when I'm out and about, looking up at them through the dark trees mostly. I find them very calming and reassuring. No matter how "big" a stressor or a concern may be, if you can "look up" or "zoom out" from the problem - look past the dark trees. Its never actually that huge, it won't last forever, not like those stars.
It's very reassuring to know that we're all under those same stars connected in a way. Our ancestors found solace and meaning in the stars, naming constellations tracking their movements etc, I've put Prion the hunter onto the right side of my elephant, it's a constellation I always look for when I'm out. I feel connected to the past when I see it.
Nurture
Name: Aka D. Large (staff member)
Occupation: DCU Staff
Name of the elephant: Nurture
Inspiration:
This sculpture features an adult elephant adorned with smaller baby elephants, each representing the strength of community, mentorship, and the importance of supporting one another. The interconnected elephants serve as a visual metaphor for how mental health is not an individual journey but one shaped by relationships—peers, colleagues, friends, and family. This design embodies DCU’s commitment to encouraging a nurturing and inclusive environment where no one is alone in their struggles. Through this, we acknowledge that seeking support is an act of courage, and together, we can lift each other up.
Neart
Name: Aka D. Large
Occupation: DCU Staff
Name of the elephant: Neart
Inspiration:
This design is deeply rooted in Irish heritage, using intricate Celtic knotwork to symbolise strength, unity, and the unbreakable connections within the DCU community. The artwork should be woven with DCU’s hex colours in the final design (RGB 26/60/10 and RGB 255/167/0), representing wisdom, stability, and hope. Embedded within the design are words such as courage, listening, healing, and support in an elegant Celtic font, emphasising the power of language in shaping mental well-being. Just as Celtic knots have no beginning or end, this pattern reflects the continuous journey of mental health—an ongoing conversation of support, growth, and resilience.
Solas
Name: Aka D. Large
Occupation: DCU Staff
Name of the elephant: Solas
Inspiration:
Solas embodies the idea that even in the darkest moments, there is always light. The design features a striking contrast of deep midnight blues and glowing gold accents, representing the journey from struggle to hope. Swirling, abstract light trails emerge from the elephant’s form, symbolising guidance, awareness, and the power of breaking through silence. Just as the night sky is illuminated by stars, this sculpture serves as a beacon—reminding the DCU community that conversations about mental health can bring light to those in need. It is a call to action to be that light for others and to embrace openness and understanding in everyday life.