Superlambanana

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.{{cite book|last=Doran |first=Mike |author2=Barton, Chantal |title=Go Superlambananas Souvenir Guide |publisher=Peppered Sprout |year=2008}} 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 in mind, as both bananas and lambs were once common cargos in Liverpool's bustling docks. 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 was incorporated into a broader “sculpture” (or, in this case, an aesthetically attractive building). Chiezo made only a four-inch model; four local sculptors—Andy Small, Julian Taylor, Tommy Reason and Ray Stokes—recreated it on a 50:1 scale.{{Cite web|url=http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/tourism/guide/museums/tm_objectid=11035225&method=full&siteid=50061&page=1&headline=superlambbanana-name_page.html|access-date=1 September 2008|last=Ireland|first=Iain|publisher=icLiverpool |title=Superlambanana}}{{cite web|title=Urban Splash team up with original Superlambanana sculpter [sic]|url=http://www.urbansplash.co.uk/news/press-releases/urban-splash-team-up-with-original-superlambanana-sculpter|publisher=Urban Splash|access-date=3 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728112022/http://www.urbansplash.co.uk/news/press-releases/urban-splash-team-up-with-original-superlambanana-sculpter|archive-date=28 July 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|title=Super Lambanana or Superlambanana: the original|url=http://www.superlambanana.eu/history.html|publisher=Super Lambanana Official Website|access-date=3 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304134337/http://www.superlambanana.eu/history.html|archive-date=4 March 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

It was created using a wire-mesh frame that supported a concrete and fibreglass shell and was developed at the former Bryant and May Matchworks factory in the south of the city at a total cost of £35,000.{{cite news |title=Superlambanana rescue |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=27 March 2007 |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/capital-of-culture/superlambanana/2007/03/27/superlambanana-rescue-100252-18814095/ |access-date=16 September 2008}} The sculpture was controversial; 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. At the end of the ArtTransPennine Exhibition, responsibility for the sculpture was handed to the Liverpool Architecture & Design Trust.{{cite book |last=Woodland |first=Guy |author2=Shaw, Fiona |title=Go Superlambananas: The Book |publisher=Cities 500 |year=2008}}

Since the sculpture's conception, the sculpture was intended to move around the city and not remain in one location. It was originally located on the Strand near Liverpool's famous Liver Building and has since been located in several other places, including Williamson Square; Spike Island in Widnes, Cheshire;{{cite web |title=SuperlambBanana Competition |publisher=Halton Borough Council |url=http://www2.halton.gov.uk/content/tourismandleisure/superlambanana/?a=5441 |access-date=15 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928124927/http://www2.halton.gov.uk/content/tourismandleisure/superlambanana/?a=5441 |archive-date=28 September 2008 |df=dmy-all }} and on Wapping, close to the Albert Dock. Council leader Warren Bradley suggested that the sculpture could also be moved to Garston in the south of the city.{{cite news |last=Chapple |first=Mike |title=Superlambanana heading for its 'spiritual home' |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=31 May 2006 |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/capital-of-culture/superlambanana/2006/05/31/superlambanana-heading-for-its-spiritual-home-100252-17151895/ |access-date=15 September 2008}}

Although its usual colour is yellow, the statue has occasionally been repainted as part of a sponsorship arrangement. Colours have included pink, during a period of sponsorship by the breast cancer awareness charity Breakthrough;{{Cite web|title=What?|url=http://www.superlambbanana.com/home.php?/WHAT?|publisher=Superlambanana.com|access-date=1 September 2008}} the colours of a Friesian cow, during a period of “quasi-vandalism”; and purple, during the SmokeFree Liverpool campaign.{{Cite web|title=Liverpool's SuperLambBanana has gone smokefree|url=http://www.smokefreeliverpool.com/index.php/news-archive/46-news-archive/134-liverpools-superlambbanana-has-gone-smokefree|publisher=SmokeFree Liverpool|date=17 March 2006|access-date=1 September 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716095216/http://www.smokefreeliverpool.com/index.php/news-archive/46-news-archive/134-liverpools-superlambbanana-has-gone-smokefree|archive-date=16 July 2011|df=dmy-all}} In 2023 the statue was painted in the colours of the Ukrainian flag to mark the Eurovision Song Contest held in Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine, because of Russia's full scale war in Ukraine.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

Speculation arose about the sculpture’s future because the artist had only loaned the sculpture to the city council; some suggested that the sculpture could be sold to Liverpool's neighbour Manchester.{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/views/liverpool-daily-post/2008/02/15/comment-we-can-t-lose-our-superlambanana-statue-icon-64375-20478668/|title=We can't lose our Superlambanana statue icon|newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post|date =15 February 2008 |access-date=1 September 2008}} In September 2008, talks began between the Liverpool Culture Company and Taro Chiezo’s representatives about keeping the sculpture in Liverpool.{{cite news |last=Bartlett |first=David |title=Talks at last over future of Superlambanana |newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post |date=11 September 2008 |url=http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/capitalofculture/news/tm_headline=talks-at-last-over-future-of-superlambanana%26method=full%26objectid=21795634%26siteid=50061-name_page.html |access-date=15 September 2008}}

Six months later, in February 2009, it was announced that an agreement was reached between the two parties: a new replica made by original sculptor Julian Taylor would remain in the city for the next 80 years.{{cite news |title=Superlambanana sculpture to stay |work=BBC News |date=4 February 2009 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7868985.stm |access-date=4 February 2008}} It is expected that the current Superlambanana will be returned to Chiezo to be auctioned off.{{cite news |last=Bartlett |first=David |title=New Superlambanana for city |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=4 February 2009 |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-entertainment/echo-entertainment/2009/02/04/new-superlambanana-for-city-100252-22851732/ |access-date=2008-02-04}}{{clarify|date=September 2024|reason=This was from 2008; where is it now?}}

{{main|Go Superlambananas!}}

Image:Pete price banana.jpg

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. Each was sponsored by a local institution or business and designed by local community members. The miniature Superlambananas were on display for ten weeks, from June to August 2008.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gosuperlambananas.co.uk/faqs.html|title=Go SuperLambBananas!|publisher=Go SuperLambBananas!|access-date=1 September 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212215139/http://www.gosuperlambananas.co.uk/faqs.html|archive-date=12 December 2008|df=dmy-all}} The Liverpool Echo partnered with the event, releasing a location map and guide of every mini Superlambanana to encourage locals to get involved.{{cite news |title=Every SuperLambBanana |newspaper=The Liverpool Echo |year=2008 |url=http://issuu.com/liverpool/docs/superlambanas?mode=embed&documentId=080718095525-e2386615b77a490b8d397d9cc319bed5&layout=grey |access-date=15 September 2008}} All but two of them were located within the Merseyside area. Lovemedoodle was located at Euston railway station in London and then was moved back to Liverpool Lime Street station,{{Cite web|title=Lovemedoodle gets the train...|date=20 August 2008|access-date=1 September 2008|url=http://www.superlambananastore.com/news/article/lovemedoodle_gets_the_train/|publisher=The SuperLambBanana Store|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716164156/http://www.superlambananastore.com/news/article/lovemedoodle_gets_the_train/|archive-date=16 July 2011|df=dmy-all}} whilst The Highest SuperLambBanana was located on top of Moel Famau in North Wales and was sponsored by Denbighshire County Council.{{Cite web|url=http://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/encore/Superlambanana.4269726.jp|date=11 July 2008|access-date=1 September 2008|publisher=Denbighshire Free Press|title=SuperLambBanana}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}

At the end of their ten-week run, the mini Superlambananas were auctioned off for the Lord Mayor's charities; each had a guide price ranging from £3,000 to £8,000.{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Catherine |title=Superlambananas up for auction |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=9 September 2008 |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/capital-of-culture/2008/09/09/superlambananas-up-for-auction-100252-21708799/ |access-date=15 September 2008}} 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.[http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/superlambanana-auction-raises-550000-charity-3472023 Superlambanana auction raises £550,000 for charity] A second, internet-based auction (hosted by [http://auctionyourproperty.com/gosuperlambananas/ AuctionYourProperty]) took place on 16 September 2008. A quarter of the proceeds went to charity.

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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 after the station's refurbishment.[http://www.liverpool.gov.uk/News/archive/march/newsdetail_3430.asp Lambananas make super return] - Liverpool City Council

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 were 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 what a Superlambana is.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

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{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Lambananas}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131209130633/http://www.superlambanana.eu/ Official Superlambanana website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081202110233/http://www.gosuperlambananas.co.uk/ Official GoSuperlambananas website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080911220529/http://www.superlambananastore.com/map/ GoSuperlambananas Map]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/8567075.stm BBC - Superlambananas to return to Liverpool March 2010]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7633884.stm BBC - Superlambanana donated to museum September 2008]

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Category:Tourist attractions in Liverpool

Category:Outdoor sculptures in Liverpool

Category:1998 sculptures

Category:Concrete sculptures in England

Category:Fiberglass sculptures in the United Kingdom

Category:1998 establishments in England