Period Ships . . . and Carbuncles

[Flyfisher]

Seems like the Cutty Sark restoration hasn't been well received in some quarters . . .
http://www.bdonline.co.uk/buildings/carbuncle-cup/carbuncle-cup-winner-2012-ship-in-a-throttle/5042493.article

 

[JoceAndChris]

Interesting article, lots of nicely expressed withering scorn there. I'd heard bad things said about it, have to say I agree with the author from looking at the photos. I've got some super pics of my family visiting this a while back, in its old state. I think it's a real shame that art, culture, history, is often pitched to kids or big kids these days. It's very alienating if you have half a brain, and often makes me think that if I'm just going to be patronised I shan't bother paying the entrance fee.

 

[tycarregydwr]

I think it's a real shame that art, culture, history, is often pitched to kids or big kids these days. It's very alienating if you have half a brain, and often makes me think that if I'm just going to be patronised I shan't bother paying the entrance fee.

I couldn't agree more. While I think it's great that museums, etc, are working hard to engage with younger visitors, it often seems that they have dumbed down the content. And frankly, I'm not always that thrilled with how they present things for children. My son used to love looking at the dinosaur bones in a certain museum - even as a toddler, that was thrilling enough for him. Then the museum got all high-tech, to 'appeal to the younger generation', by installing lots of interactive screens with information about dinosaurs. Result - he spends all his time fiddling with screens, and completely ignoring the great big, very interesting, real exhibits.

 

[LadyArowana]

It doesn't look so much like a ship anymore, that strikes me as a fundamentally bad thing.

 

[tobydog]

Unfortunately I also tend to agree. The problem as I see it is that the ship is sitting way to high up. I understood that the idea of the glass was that it would give the appearance that the ship was at sea. That's a hell of a swell!. I do, though, like what they've done below - structural issues aside. Shame they didn't dig a bigger hole.

On a positive note, we still have the Cutty Sark after what looked like irreversable fire damage. If the same fire was to occur today, how readily would £50m (or whatever it was) be available?. Where are the funds to save HMS Victory (currently rotting away) which in my view is actually a more worthy cause?.

 

[Flyfisher]

Seems to me that the concept of exhibiting the ship on a representation of the high seas worked better in the boardroom presentation than in reality.