A ‘terrifying’ Ronnie O’Sullivan mural has left fans snookered as the artist insisted that the ‘zombie-like’ tribute to the sporting star is yet to be finished.
The giant 30-foot-tall artwork was commissioned by the owner of the Spot On Snooker and Pool Club in Sheffield, Dan Kirkland.
But the mural’s artist, Chris Ashmore, has faced significant criticism online for the unfinished painting on the side of the club near the famous Crucible Theatre.
People were quick to describe the massive mural of ‘The Rocket’ – which took more than six weeks to create – as ‘terrifying’ and ‘zombie-like’ on social media.
Users have named the artwork ‘Monkey O’Sullivan’ for the way the seven-time snooker world champion’s facial features have been depicted.
One social media user said: ‘Didn’t know zombie snooker was a thing.’
While another commented: ‘That’s absolutely horrendous, just looks like the corpse of Ronnie O’Sullivan.’
A third fan joked: ‘I want a snooker player but I want him to look like he’s just returned from war.’
A mural of Ronnie O’Sullivan has faced backlash from snooker fans over the star’s appearance
Scaffolding has been reassembled against the wall featuring the mural ahead of some ‘touch-ups’
Ronnie O’Sullivan plays a shot in the semi-final match against Chang Bingyu at the Wuhan Open in China
Others said the mural made 50-year-old Ronnie ‘look like a primate’ with one snooker fan adding: ‘Monkey O’Sullivan hits a banana shot to hit a maximum 147!’
Scaffolding has since been reassembled against the wall of the snooker club which depicts Mr O’Sullivan leaning down for a shot with a cue and rest.
Mr Ashmore insisted that the mural was not finished yet, telling the BBC that ‘touch-ups’ were still required.
‘I usually use a scissor lift, where you can stand back and see things as a whole, but I couldn’t use it as the land is too uneven,’ he said.
‘I saw people saying it looks like Michael Jackson or a zombie. I’ve got thick skin, I’ll be OK, but it didn’t feel fair,’ he added.
Despite the online controversy around the snooker star’s mural, the club’s owner said he ‘loves’ Mr Ashmore’s work.
‘Chris is a fantastic artist who has done loads of work for us inside, recreating the Crucible Theatre as well as pictures of John Lennon, Bullseye and Freddie Mercury which hang on our walls,’ Mr Kirkland said.
‘We think some of the online comments are hilarious but we must stress that the artwork is not quite finished so it will look a little different by the time it is all done.
‘We love the painting so far, it’s unique and is a talking point but then all good art should provoke discussion.’
Backlash against the mural came as Mr O’Sullivan pulled out of the British Open for the fourth year in a row.
The World Snooker Tour said medical reasons were to blame for his absence from the event which is taking place in Cheltenham.
Mr O’Sullivan’s withdrawal from the competition came after a 6-3 loss in the Wuhan Open to Chang Bingyu.
The legendary snooker player was set to play against 29-year-old Polish player Mateusz Baranowski on Monday but a replacement player has already been found.
Mark Joyce will now play against Mr Baranowski when the tournament begins in three days’ time.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login