All this is not happening in some forgotten service of the Greek State but in the British Museum, and more specifically in the rooms that house the Parthenon sculptures. This is what “Artnet” notes in its recent publication according to which all these dangerous phenomena for the exhibits and visitors were visible with the naked eye during a visit by the editor who signs the article on January 23.
“The antiquated infrastructure in these halls, which includes the Parthenon Sculpture gallery, is crumbling. The ceilings are leaking water, the air conditioning doesn’t work, the paint is peeling and the floor tiles are cracked. Two adjoining rooms, one with Greek and Roman sculptures (Gallery 23) and the other with masterpieces of Assyrian art (Gallery 8), are now exposed to the elements, protected only by a thin sheet of material spread over the large skylights in the roof to cover the opening, which should cover the reinforced glass panels”, the publication emphasizes.
The author of the publication claims that at that time there were severe storms in England and London, as a result of which the protectors of the glass ceilings of the rooms were slightly detached and swayed according to the moods of the strong winds. In addition, the editor found that the material covering the skylights had been torn. She also noticed that in the room where visitors admire the Parthenon Sculptures, a floor air conditioner had been installed right next to the Sculptures, as the air conditioning in the room was not working. He saw the same image in Gallery 8, where the masterpieces of Assyrian art are exhibited.
All this happens in the western wing of the Museum, which is the oldest and was built in the 19th century. According to Artnet estimates, the $1.26 billion renovation work will not begin until early 2025, while the tender for the architect to undertake the project is expected in the spring.
British Museum: Renovation sponsored by BP
To the editor’s question regarding the possible replacement of the worn protectors on the ceilings of the halls, the Museum replied that no intervention is foreseen until the renovation works begin in the entire building. “The question is: Will the antiquated infrastructure in these halls hold up to the renovation?” notes the editor, who reminds readers that similar problems have arisen in the past, specifically in 2018, when a water leak was discovered. in the sculpture hall of the Parthenon. “The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, had argued at the time that the event strengthened Greece’s request for the return of the Sculptors.
Mrs. Mendoni also protested a few days ago, on February 17, when the room was turned into a fashion catwalk as part of London Fashion Week,” emphasizes the editor, who indirectly attacks the Museum for its sponsors. “In December, the Museum announced that oil company BP would provide $63 million over a ten-year period to fund its renovation work. At a time when other organizations and museums in England were heavily criticized for the same reason and were forced to cut off their relationship with the company.”
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