Superlambanana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Superlambanana |
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The Superlambanana at its current location
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| 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 |
| 53°24′39.4″N 2°59′17.3″W / 53.410944°N 2.988139°W | |
The Superlambanana is a bright yellow sculpture in Liverpool, England. It's super big, weighing about 8 tonnes and standing over 5 meters tall! This unique artwork looks like a mix of a banana and a lamb. It was created by Japanese artist Taro Chiezo.
You can find the Superlambanana in Tithebarn Street, outside a university library. It used to be in other places too, like near the famous Albert Dock. Taro Chiezo made a small model, but local artists Andy Small, Julian Taylor, Tommy Reason, and Ray Stokes built the giant version.
The sculpture was made for an art show in 1998. It's a fun way to think about how things can be mixed together. It also reminds us of Liverpool's past. Long ago, both sheep and bananas were common cargo brought into the city's docks.
In 2008, Liverpool was the European Capital of Culture. To celebrate, 125 smaller copies of the Superlambanana were made. These mini sculptures were placed all around Liverpool and the nearby area. One special mini Superlambanana was even put on top of Moel Famau in North Wales!
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Why Was Superlambanana Made?
The Superlambanana was created for the ArtTransPennine Exhibition in 1998. This event aimed to create a 'corridor of art' across northern England. Liverpool's part of the exhibition was this special sculpture. It was shown to the city when the Tate Gallery branch in Liverpool reopened.
The artist, Taro Chiezo, wanted to create something that "spoke of the future of 90's Liverpool." He had visited the city before and was inspired by the Queensway Tunnel's ventilation shaft. He liked how a useful building could also be a beautiful sculpture.
The Superlambanana also playfully comments on genetic engineering. It was designed with Liverpool in mind because both bananas and lambs were often brought into the city's busy docks. Taro Chiezo only made a small, four-inch model. Four local sculptors, Andy Small, Julian Taylor, Tommy Reason, and Ray Stokes, then built the full-size version.
The sculpture was built using a wire frame covered with concrete and fiberglass. It cost about £35,000 to make. At first, some people weren't sure what to think of it. But soon, it became a popular symbol and a much-loved piece of public art in Liverpool.
Where Has Superlambanana Been?
The Superlambanana was always meant to move around the city. It wasn't supposed to stay in just one spot. It first stood near the famous Liver Building on The Strand. Since then, it has been in several different places. These include Williamson Square and Wapping, close to the Albert Dock.
The sculpture is usually bright yellow. But sometimes, it gets a temporary new paint job! This happens when different groups sponsor it. For example, it has been painted pink for a breast cancer awareness charity. It was also purple for a SmokeFree Liverpool campaign. Once, it even looked like a Friesian cow!
The Future of Superlambanana
For a while, people wondered what would happen to the Superlambanana. It was only on loan to the city council from the artist. Some even thought it might be sold to Manchester, Liverpool's neighbor.
But in February 2009, good news arrived! An agreement was made to keep a Superlambanana in Liverpool for the next 80 years. A new copy of the sculpture was made by Julian Taylor, one of the original sculptors. The first Superlambanana was returned to Taro Chiezo.
Go Superlambananas!
As part of Liverpool's European Capital of Culture celebrations in 2008, 125 smaller copies of the Superlambanana were made. These mini Superlambananas, each two meters tall, were placed all over Liverpool and nearby areas. Local businesses and community groups sponsored each one. Local people also helped design them.
The mini Superlambananas were on display for ten weeks, from June to August 2008. The Liverpool Echo newspaper even made a map to help people find all of them! Most of them were in the Merseyside area. However, one called Lovemedoodle was briefly at Euston railway station in London before returning to Liverpool Lime Street station. Another, The Highest SuperLambBanana, was placed on top of Moel Famau in North Wales.
After their display, the mini Superlambananas were sold at auctions to raise money for charity. The first auction sold 68 sculptures for a total of £550,000! One Superlambanana, called Mandy' Mandala Superlambanana, sold for £25,000. Many famous people bought them, including comedian John Bishop.
Superlambananas Return
In early 2010, eight new two-meter-high copies of Superlambanana were made. These are known as the "Eight for 08." They were first placed on The Strand, in front of the Cunard and Liver Buildings. They are planned to move to Lime Street station after it is updated.
One of these sculptures, named 'Archie', was sent to the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, China. 'Archie' had designs from many architectural details of Liverpool. The city gave this sculpture as a gift. It is now in the Shanghai World Expo Museum. This mosaic sculpture was designed and made by Debbie Ryan, a local artist from Liverpool.
As of October 2014, four of the "Eight for 08" have moved to the Pier Head. They are now outside the new Museum of Liverpool. The Mandy' Mandala Superlambanana is inside the museum itself.
See also
In Spanish: Superlambanana para niños
