Ronnie O'Sullivan Mural Sparks 'Zombie' Row
A street artist has defended his 'unfinished' mural of the snooker star in Sheffield after it was likened to a 'skeletal' or 'zombie-like' portrait, with the artist confirming two weeks of work remain
A mural of snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan in Sheffield has sparked controversy online, with many describing it as 'zombie-like' or 'skeletal'. The artwork, created by street artist Chris Ashmore, was commissioned for the back wall of the Spot On Snooker Club on Langsett Road.
Chris Ashmore has defended his work, stating that he had only completed two weeks of the five assigned to the job and that 'touch-ups' were still needed to complete the mural. The artist confirmed that scaffolding has been put back up at the site, allowing him to continue working on the project.
The mural has received mixed reactions from residents near the snooker club. While some, like Gillian Jones, have expressed their liking for the artwork, saying it 'brightened her day', others have been more critical. Frank Short described the artwork as 'OK' but stated that 'the eyes are all wrong', while Shaun Spalding described the mural as 'shocking', saying 'his eyes are all wrong, his teeth are wrong, it just don't look like Ronnie'.
Dan Kirkland, the manager of Spot On Snooker Club, has defended Ashmore's work, stating that 'some relatively small changes will make a huge difference'. Kirkland also expressed disappointment at the personal criticism directed towards the artist, saying 'people are absolutely entitled to like or dislike a mural, but what has upset us is seeing some of the reactions becoming personal towards Chris'.
## What happens next The controversy surrounding the mural has highlighted the challenges of creating public art. With the scaffolding back in place, Chris Ashmore will continue working on the mural, aiming to complete the remaining two weeks of work. The final result will be eagerly anticipated, as the community waits to see the completed portrait of Ronnie O'Sullivan.
The incident also raises questions about the nature of public criticism and the impact it can have on artists. While feedback is an essential part of the creative process, personal attacks can be detrimental to an artist's well-being and reputation. As the situation unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the community responds to the completed mural and whether the criticism will have a lasting impact on Chris Ashmore's work.
