Latest news with #JulianBeever
BBC News
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Check out this optical illusion made from chalk
You might be using chalk to draw in your garden this summer, but could you create an optical illusion like this one? The street art celebrates the reopening of a water gate at Caerphilly Castle and was drawn outside Cardiff Central railway station. It was created by Julian Beever, a chalk artist known all around the world. He said: "It's been brilliant to see so many people stop, stare, and realise they're literally standing on history."The artwork will eventually move into castle grounds alongside new interactive exhibits. The artwork shows the medieval entrance to the great hall at Caerphilly Castle, which has been hidden from view for celebrates the first time the water gate has been opened since medieval passageway connects the castle's great hall to the southern lake and was originally used as a way to get into the castle from the water's edge. It's part of a big regeneration project costing £8m, which wanted to "breathe new life" into one of Wales' most iconic landmarks. Gilbert de Clare started the construction of Caerphilly Castle in 1268, and it's still the biggest castle in Wales. It's three times bigger than the home of Welsh rugby - the Principality Stadium. As you can imagine, a building this old needs lots of work to keep it in good condition, which is why it needed a restoration project. The water gate is just one of several improvements made to the castle alongside the refurbishment of the great hall. Gwilym Hughes, head of Cadw who is responsible for looking after Wales' historical places, said: "Breathing new life into Wales' heritage isn't just about restoring old walls, it's about opening doors to stories old and new, welcoming visitors from near and far, and captivating future generations."
BBC News
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Cardiff Central optical illusion celebrates Caerphilly Castle landmark
A giant piece of street art has appeared outside Cardiff Central railway station celebrating the reopening of a water gate at Caerphilly optical illusion was created by world-renowned chalk artist Julian Beever offering a fascinating window into Welsh artwork, which was commissioned by Cadw, shows the medieval entrance to the great hall at the castle which has been hidden from view for was originally used as a way to access the castle from the water's edge for logistical purposes and to defend the site. The artwork celebrates the first time the water gate has been opened since medieval passageway connects the castle's great hall to the southern lake at marks the completion of an £8m regeneration project at the castle which aims to "breathe new life" into one of Wales' most iconic landmarks. Mr Beever said it was the "perfect way" to commemorate the reopening of the water gate."It's been brilliant to see so many people stop, stare, and realise they're literally standing on history," he water gate is one of several improvements made to Caerphilly Castle as part of the regeneration great hall has also been refurbished and new interactive exhibits have been installed to "plunge visitors into the castle's medieval past". Gwilym Hughes, head of Cadw, said it was a "magnificent piece of art"."It re-imagines and brings to life a scene at the water gate to help people envision how it may have once looked.""Breathing new life into Wales' heritage isn't just about restoring old walls, it's about opening doors to stories old and new, welcoming visitors from near and far, and captivating future generations," he artwork will be in Cardiff Central Square until 4 August before moving to Caerphilly town centre until 7 August. It will then move into the Caerphilly Castle grounds where it will feature alongside the new, interactive exhibits.
