In Early September 2010, we visited the amphitheatre to view Gary Drostle's finished mural and to make these photographs for your enlightenment.
We were, to put it mildly, disappointed by the (we assume) completed work. After a few re-visits and many conversations with fellow-visitors to the site, we felt that a number of questions now need to be answered:
Where is the promised re-creation of the grandeur of the amphitheatre as its builders designed it- the largest in the whole of the province of Britannia, a place fit for Emperors?
Where is there any attempt to educate the viewer about the grand architecture of the monument and its methods of construction?
Where is the skilled trompe l'oeil, persuading the visitor that the other half of the amphitheatre is really there before them? A glance at the pictures above will clearly show that the mural is pathetically unconvincing in this respect.
What, we wonder, is the expected lifespan of the mural? We noticed that, despite the paint being barely dry, signs of staining and decay are already in evidence.
A visit to the artist's website will soon convince you of the excellence of much of his work- we particularly admire his mosaics. So what went so very wrong here in Chester? A snip at a mere £20,000, we have ended up with a poorly-executed, uninspiring daub that does nothing at all to illuminate this very special space.
In January 2012, the Chester Renaissance Board
made the following report regarding the future of Dee House:
"Two potential developers are now working on indicative business proposals for delivering a first class visitor experience in Dee House. The Cheshire West and Chester Head of Property has agreed to receive and review the proposals at the end of February 2012.
One proposal is proving to be genuinely quite exciting for the site and at first glance, appears to have (unconfirmed) funding routes identified, thereby potentially reducing the burden of investment required from CWaC. If delivered, this could have a major impact on the tourism and visitor economy of the city".
Watch this space. |
