Superlambanana

Last updated

Superlambanana
Superlambanana, Tithebarn Street 2019.jpg
The Superlambanana outside the Avril Robarts Library
Artist Taro Chiezo
Medium Concrete, fiberglass, wire mesh
Dimensions(Ht: 17 ft (5.2 m)
Wt: 8 long tons (8.1 t) in)
Location Liverpool, England
Coordinates 53°24′39.4″N2°59′17.3″W / 53.410944°N 2.988139°W / 53.410944; -2.988139 -->
Superlambanana at its current location, facing the Marybone student village, and Vauxhall Road. Marybone 1, Liverpool.jpg
Superlambanana at its current location, facing the Marybone student village, and Vauxhall Road.
The Superlambanana at its former location Superlambbanana.JPG
The Superlambanana at its former location

Superlambanana is a bright yellow sculpture in Liverpool, England. Weighing almost 8 tonnes (7.9 long tons) and standing at 5.2 metres (17 feet) tall, it is intended to be a cross between a banana and a lamb and was designed by New York City-based Japanese artist Taro Chiezo. It currently stands in Tithebarn Street, outside the Avril Robarts Library of Liverpool John Moores University, having previously been located on Wapping near the Albert Dock. [1]

Contents

Chiezo himself only created a four-inch model, while the full-size replica was made by local artists Andy Small, Julian Taylor, Tommy Reason, and Ray Stokes. Developed for the 1998 ArtTransPennine Exhibition, the sculpture reflects the history of Liverpool, as both sheep and bananas were historically common cargos in the city's docks, while it is also a comment on the potential dangers of genetic engineering.

In 2008, as part of Liverpool's year-long position as the European Capital of Culture, 125 individual miniature replicas were created. Sponsored by local community organisations and businesses in the city, the mini Superlambananas were located throughout the Liverpool and Merseyside region. One sculpture, The Highest SuperLambBanana, was located on top of Moel Famau, North Wales, recognising the very close links the city has with that region. [2]

Origin

The sculpture was created for the ArtTransPennine Exhibition in 1998, part of an initiative to create a 'corridor of art' through the North of England. [3] Liverpool's contribution, designed by Japanese artist Taro Chiezo, was the Superlambanana which was unveiled to the city at the reopening of Liverpool's branch of the famous Tate Gallery. An ironic comment on the dangers of genetic engineering, it was developed with the city specifically in mind as both the banana and lamb were once a common cargo in Liverpool's bustling docks. [4] The thinking behind Chiezo's Superlambanana was the creation of something that 'spoke of the future of 90's Liverpool'. He had previously visited the city and been inspired by the Queensway Tunnel's ventilation shaft, in particular the symbolism of how a vital piece of 1930's engineering had been incorporated into a broader 'sculpture' (or in this case an aesthetically attractive building). [3] Chiezo himself made only a four-inch model, with four local sculptors: Andy Small, Julian Taylor, Tommy Reason and Ray Stokes, recreating it on a scale of 50:1. [5] [6] [7]

It was created using a wire-mesh frame that supported a concrete and fibreglass shell [5] and was developed at the former Bryant and May Matchworks factory in the south of the City at a total cost of £35,000. [8] The sculpture was at first considered controversial and there was scepticism regarding its purpose and value. However it soon became a popular symbol in the city and a valued piece of public art. [4] At the end of the ArtTransPennine Exhibition, responsibility for the sculpture was handed to the Liverpool Architecture & Design Trust. [2]

Time in the Liverpool area

Since the sculpture's conception it was intended to move around the city and not remain in one location. [4] It was originally located on the Strand near Liverpool's famous Liver Building and has since been located in several places including Williamson Square, [5] Spike Island in Widnes, Cheshire, [9] and on Wapping, close to the Albert Dock. [1] Council leader Warren Bradley also suggested that the sculpture could be moved to Garston in the south of the city in the near future. [10]

Although its usual colour is yellow, the statue has occasionally been given a temporary repaint as part of a sponsorship arrangement. Colours have included pink, during a period of sponsorship by the breast cancer awareness charity Breakthrough, [4] the colours of a Friesian cow during a period of 'quasi-vandalism', and purple during the SmokeFree Liverpool campaign. [11] In 2023 the statue was painted in the colours of the Ukrainian flag to mark the Eurovision Song Contest being held in Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine, due to Russia's full scale war in Ukraine. [12]

After Liverpool

There had been a great deal of speculation about the future of the sculpture after it emerged that it was only on loan to the city council from the artist and it had been suggested that the sculpture could be sold to Liverpool's neighbour Manchester. [13] In September 2008 talks began between the Liverpool Culture Company and representatives of Taro Chiezo about keeping the sculpture in Liverpool. [14]

Six months later, in February 2009, it was announced that an agreement had been reached between the two parties that will see a new replica model being made by original sculptor Julian Taylor that will remain in the city for the next 80 years. [15] It is expected that the current Superlambanana will be returned to Chiezo to be auctioned off. [16] [ clarification needed ]

Go Superlambananas!

Super Gag Banana Pete price banana.jpg
Super Gag Banana

As part of Liverpool's Capital of Culture celebrations, 125 two-metre-high replicas of Superlambanana were commissioned and located throughout Liverpool and the surrounding areas. The mini Superlambananas were developed in partnership between the Liverpool Culture Company and Wild in Art, with each one being sponsored by a local institution or business and designed by local community members. The miniature Superlambananas were on display for ten weeks, from the June to August 2008. [17] The Liverpool Echo partnered with the event, releasing a location map and guide of every mini Superlambanana to encourage locals to get involved. [18] All but two of them were located within the Merseyside area. Lovemedoodle was located at Euston railway station in London for a short while until it was moved back to Liverpool Lime Street station, [19] whilst The Highest SuperLambBanana was located on top of Moel Famau in North Wales and was sponsored by Denbighshire County Council. [20]

At the end of their ten-week run, the mini Superlambananas were auctioned off for the Lord Mayor's charities, with each having a guide price ranging from £3,000 to £8,000. [21] The first of two auctions was held at St George's Hall on 9 September 2008 with 68 Superlambananas up for sale. In total they sold for a combined sum of £550,000 or approximately £7,800 each, well above estimates. The highest bid on the night was £25,000, paid by the Chairman of National Museums Liverpool for 'Mandy' Mandala Superlambanana created by glass artist Patricia Lee, whilst Phil Redmond, creative director of the Liverpool Culture Company, purchased four lots for a total of £55,000. Other notable purchasers included comedian John Bishop, playwright Fred Lawless and Big Brother star Craig Phillips. [22] A second, internet-based auction (hosted by AuctionYourProperty) took place on 16 September 2008 with 25% of the proceeds going to charity.

Superlambananas return

Seven of the 'Eight for 08' at The Strand LambananasOM.jpg
Seven of the 'Eight for 08' at The Strand

Early in 2010, eight new two-metre-high replicas of Superlambanana, known as the "Eight for 08" were commissioned as a permanent piece of public art. Initially placed on The Strand, in front of the Cunard and Liver Buildings, they were destined to be moved to Lime Street station following the station's refurbishment. [23]

In 2010, one of these sculptures was sent to the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China. This sculpture was named 'Archie' as it featured many designs from architectural details from the city. The sculpture was gifted by the city, and now resides in the Shanghai World Expo Museum. This sculpture was made in the medium of mosaic, and was designed and made by Debbie Ryan, a local artist from the city of Liverpool.

As of October 2014, four of the 'Eight for 08' have been relocated to the Pier Head, outside the new Museum of Liverpool. Mandy Mandala Superlambanana is in the museum itself. Before the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Liverpool in June 2023, the Museum of Liverpool made a video explaining to visitors what a Superlambana is. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool</span> City in England

Liverpool is a cathedral, port city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England. It had a population of 496,770 in 2022. The city is located on the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary, adjacent to the Irish Sea, and is approximately 178 miles (286 km) from London. Liverpool is the fifth largest city in the United Kingdom, the largest settlement in Merseyside and part of the Liverpool City Region, a combined authority with a population of over 1.5 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tate Liverpool</span> Art gallery and museum in Liverpool, Merseyside, England

Tate Liverpool is an art gallery and museum in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, and part of Tate, along with Tate St Ives, Cornwall, Tate Britain, London, and Tate Modern, London. The museum was an initiative of the Merseyside Development Corporation. Tate Liverpool was created to display work from the Tate Collection which comprises the national collection of British art from the year 1500 to the present day, and international modern art. The gallery also has a programme of temporary exhibitions. Until 2003, Tate Liverpool was the largest gallery of modern and contemporary art in the UK outside London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merseyside</span> County of England

Merseyside is a ceremonial and metropolitan county in North West England. It borders Lancashire to the north, Greater Manchester to the east, Cheshire to the south, the Welsh county of Flintshire across the Dee Estuary to the southwest, and the Irish Sea to the west. The largest settlement is the city of Liverpool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Quinn</span> British painter and sculptor

Marc Quinn is a British contemporary visual artist whose work includes sculpture, installation, and painting. Quinn explores "what it is to be human in the world today" through subjects including the body, genetics, identity, environment, and the media. His work has used materials that vary widely, from blood, bread and flowers, to marble and stainless steel. Quinn has been the subject of solo exhibitions at Sir John Soane's Museum, the Tate Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Fondation Beyeler, Fondazione Prada, and South London Gallery. The artist was a notable member of the Young British Artists movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walker Art Gallery</span> Art gallery in Liverpool, England

The Walker Art Gallery is an art gallery in Liverpool, which houses one of the largest art collections in England outside London. It is part of the National Museums Liverpool group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool</span> Complex of docks and buildings in Liverpool, England

The Royal Albert Dock is a complex of dock buildings and warehouses in Liverpool, England. Designed by Jesse Hartley and Philip Hardwick, it was opened in 1846, and was the first structure in Britain to be built from cast iron, brick and stone, with no structural wood. As a result, it was the first non-combustible warehouse system in the world. It was known simply as the Albert Dock until 2018, when it was granted a royal charter and had the honorific "Royal" added to its name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Liverpool Building</span> Building located in Liverpool, England

The Port of Liverpool Building is a Grade II* listed building in Liverpool, England. It is located at the Pier Head and, along with the neighbouring Royal Liver Building and Cunard Building, is one of Liverpool's Three Graces, which line the city's waterfront. It is also part of Liverpool's formerly UNESCO-designated World Heritage Maritime Mercantile City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince's Dock, Liverpool</span> Dock on the River Mersey, England

Prince's Dock is a dock on the River Mersey, England, and part of the Port of Liverpool. It is the most southerly of the docks situated in the northern part of the Liverpool dock system, connected to Prince's Half-Tide Dock to the north. The dock is now in the buffer zone to one of Liverpool's World Heritage Sites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canning Dock</span> Dock in Liverpool, England

Canning Dock on the River Mersey is part of the Port of Liverpool in northern England. The dock is in the southern dock system, connected to Salthouse Dock to the south and with access to the river via the Canning Half Tide Dock to the west. The Canning Graving Docks are accessed from the dock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mersey Docks and Harbour Company</span> Administrative body of the Port of Liverpool

The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company (MDHC), formerly the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board (MDHB), owns and administers the dock facilities of the Port of Liverpool, on the River Mersey, England. These include the operation of the enclosed northern dock system that runs from Prince's Dock to Seaforth Dock, in the city of Liverpool and the dock facilities built around the Great Float of the Wirral Peninsula, located on the west side of the river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taro Chiezo</span> Japanese artist based in Manhattan

Taro Chiezo is a Japanese artist based in Manhattan. His works include SuperLambBanana, a sculpture in Liverpool, England of a Lamb with its back as a banana.

<i>The Kiss</i> (Rodin sculpture) Sculpture by Auguste Rodin

The Kiss is an 1882 marble sculpture by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crosby Beach</span> Beach near Liverpool, England

Crosby Beach is part of the Merseyside coastline north of Liverpool in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, England, stretching about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) North-West from the Seaforth Dock in the Port of Liverpool, through Waterloo, where it separates the sea from the Marina. The beach was awarded Keep Britain Tidy's Quality Coast Award in 2011.

Hundreds of replicas of the Statue of Liberty have been created worldwide. The original Statue of Liberty, designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, is 151 feet tall and stands on a pedestal that is 154 feet tall, making the height of the entire sculpture 305 feet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool Arena</span> Event location

Liverpool Arena, known for sponsorship reasons as the M&S Bank Arena and previously the Echo Arena, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the city centre of Liverpool, England. The venue hosts live music, comedy performances and sporting events, and forms part of Liverpool event campus ACC Liverpool – an interconnected arena, exhibition and convention centre. The venue serves a regional population of 2.5 million people and over 6.6 million across England's North West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool Canal Link</span> Section of canal linking the Leeds to Liverpool canal to Liverpools South Docks

The Liverpool Canal Link is an English waterway link that connects the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, at the Liverpool Pier Head, to the city's South Docks. It cost £22m and was opened in March 2009. The new link adds 1.4 miles (2.3 km) of navigable waterway to the canal system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City</span> Former World Heritage Site in Liverpool, England

Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City is a former UNESCO designated World Heritage Site in Liverpool, England, that comprised six locations in the city centre including the Pier Head, Albert Dock and William Brown Street, and many of the city's most famous landmarks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go Superlambananas!</span>

Go Superlambananas! was an art exhibition that took place in Liverpool, England, during the city's European Capital of Culture celebrations in 2008. Based upon Taro Chiezo's Superlambanana, which had been located in Liverpool since 1998, the exhibit consisted of 124 two metre high replicas, which were located throughout Liverpool and the surrounding areas. Each mini-Superlambanana was individually designed by local community groups and artists, with a range of public and private sector organisations providing sponsorship funding. The mini-Superlambananas were on display for ten weeks, from June to August 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ culture in Liverpool</span>

The LGBT community in Liverpool, England is one of the largest in the United Kingdom and has a recorded history since the 18th century. Many historic LGBT firsts and pioneering moments in the LGBT rights movement either took place in Liverpool or were achieved by citizens of the city.

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Liverpool, England.

References

  1. 1 2 "Superlambanana moves to new home". BBC News . 13 April 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  2. 1 2 Woodland, Guy; Shaw, Fiona (2008). Go Superlambananas: The Book. Cities 500.
  3. 1 2 Doran, Mike; Barton, Chantal (2008). Go Superlambananas Souvenir Guide. Peppered Sprout.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "What?". Superlambanana.com. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 Ireland, Iain. "Superlambanana". icLiverpool . Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  6. ↑ "Urban Splash team up with original Superlambanana sculpter [sic]". Urban Splash. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  7. ↑ "Super Lambanana or Superlambanana: the original". Super Lambanana Official Website. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  8. ↑ "Superlambanana rescue". Liverpool Echo . 27 March 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2008.
  9. ↑ "SuperlambBanana Competition". Halton Borough Council. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  10. ↑ Chapple, Mike (31 May 2006). "Superlambanana heading for its 'spiritual home'". Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  11. ↑ "Liverpool's SuperLambBanana has gone smokefree". SmokeFree Liverpool. 17 March 2006. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  12. ↑ https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/superlambanana-receives-makeover-ahead-eurovision-26504128 Superlambanana receives makeover ahead of Eurovision. The iconic Liverpool sculpture has been given a new colour scheme as the showpiece event draws closer. Liverpool Echo, 18 March 2023
  13. ↑ "We can't lose our Superlambanana statue icon". Liverpool Daily Post . 15 February 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  14. ↑ Bartlett, David (11 September 2008). "Talks at last over future of Superlambanana". Liverpool Daily Post . Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  15. ↑ "Superlambanana sculpture to stay". BBC News . 4 February 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
  16. ↑ Bartlett, David (4 February 2009). "New Superlambanana for city". Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 4 February 2008.
  17. ↑ "Go SuperLambBananas!". Go SuperLambBananas!. Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  18. ↑ "Every SuperLambBanana". The Liverpool Echo . 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  19. ↑ "Lovemedoodle gets the train..." The SuperLambBanana Store. 20 August 2008. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  20. ↑ "SuperLambBanana". Denbighshire Free Press. 11 July 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2008.[ permanent dead link ]
  21. ↑ Jones, Catherine (9 September 2008). "Superlambananas up for auction". Liverpool Echo . Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  22. ↑ Superlambanana auction raises £550,000 for charity
  23. ↑ Lambananas make super return - Liverpool City Council
  24. ↑ What is a superlambanana? By Sam Bytheway. https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/stories/what-superlambanana? Published 30 May 2023. On You Tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzPH_ZuQNSw&t=3s 26 May 2023
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.