We’ve repeatedly expressed opposition to public guardians (including the National Trust) allowing modifications to monuments, even for innocent reasons. The fear is that there could be damaging copycat behaviour either at the same place or at somewhere completely different. This week there’s news that a poem in the form of a massive rock mural that the National Trust allowed the National Theatre of Wales to paint on Snowdon hasn’t faded away but has baked on – and will now take a lot of removal. National Theatre Wales has apologised and said it will rectify the problem. A National Trust spokesman expressed the opinion it was “a small issue” as it will soon be sorted out but we don’t really agree and nor do some others.
Elfyn Jones, the British Mountaineering Council’s officer for Wales said “We have sympathies for the artistic endeavors involved but what is left is no more than graffiti in a semi-wild landscape in a national park. It’s unfortunate to say the least” . In addition, a warden for Natural Resources Wales said on this video “I’m concerned that this will be here for some time but more concerned about what sort of message it’s giving to the public – that it’s acceptable to do this sort of thing…“
Bravo! That last point is very important in our opinion and something that neither The National Trust nor the National Theatre of Wales seems to have considered. So come on National Trust! You can’t say that you allowing artistic events at Snowdon (on what is supposed to be a protected site) and charitable brandalising of the Uffington White Horse (on what is supposed to be another protected site) WON’T have contributed to the next case of vandalism there or elsewhere. So how about desisting?.
The Heritage Journal 
7 comments
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10/10/2014 at 09:32
Edwin
In this instance I agree with the sentiment that it is wrong to paint poems on rocks both because of my dislike of public art shoving itself in the face of the public for the benefit of the ego of artist or sponsor and for the spoilation of the rock itself. Less concerned with copycat possibilities though.
10/10/2014 at 09:34
Pat
Less concerned with copycat possibilities though.
Why?!
10/10/2014 at 10:50
Gareth T
We find ring and cup marks and get excited about evidence of ancient art yet we despise our evidence of our modern art?. In a few hundred years we would be protecting this as archaeological evidence of the creativity of our forefathers at a cultural event lost in time. Archaeology is not about yesterday but about the footprints mankind leaves rach and every day as we create new archaeology.
10/10/2014 at 11:50
lanceleuven
Yes, perhaps they’ll learn from this.
10/10/2014 at 17:16
heritageaction
Sounds a bit like a vandals charter though!
10/10/2014 at 17:16
heritageaction
Sounds a bit like a vandals charter though!
10/10/2014 at 18:04
Gareth T
I remember visiting a castle and French prisoners of war had scratched all sorts of images and words on the wall of one room they were kept in. A tangible link to the past and fantastic to see.