Liverpool to Lose Superlambanana?

[Kev]

LIVERPOOL’S iconic Superlambanana sculpture could leave the city before the end of Capital of Culture year, the Daily Post can reveal.

The solicitor representing the Japanese creator, Taro Chiezo, last night claimed the sculpture had only ever been on loan to Liverpool for a period of 10 years from its arrival in 1998, and could be sold from May.

Francis McEntegart, of Chime Management, said figures in the arts world had already shown interest in buying the work – including a number in Manchester.

He has written to the Liverpool Culture Company to open discussions about selling the artwork and last night called on the company to secure the sculpture for the city.

The Culture Company said that once it had received the letter it would respond accordingly.

LAST night, former Liverpool councillor Lady Doreen Jones, who used to look after the Superlambanana, said “it would be criminal” if it left the city and the prospect would create outrage.

Mr McEntegart said the sculpture was originally commissioned in May, 1998, by the Artranspennine Exhibition.

The 17ft sculpture passed to the Liverpool Architect Design Trust (LADT) but Mr McEntegart said Liverpool City Council became the “custodians” of the sculpture when LADT folded.

Since its arrival, it has had various homes in the city, including outside ships chandlers JP Lamb, on The Strand, before it was demol-ished for redevelopment.

It currently stands guard outside the Liverpool John Moores University learning resource centre in Tithebarn Street.

Mr McEntegart said: “I have sent a letter to the Culture Company to say ‘do you know you don’t own it?’

“The Superlambanana has become a popular and iconic sculpture synonymous with Liverpool.

“We have seen how much the people love it and the good feeling it gives to locals and tourists.

“To take it out of the city would be like removing the Mona Lisa from the Louvre.

“It belongs in the city and on a wider scale who knows what effect it may have on the local economy if it were to go. Taro would love it to stay in Liverpool.”

But he said that his job was to secure a fair price for the work for his client.

“We are hoping Liverpool City Council will have the same foresight as Sefton Council who saw the benefit of buying art for the public and for tourism reward with the Gormley statues.”

The statues known as the Iron Men on Crosby beach cost more than £1m, but last night Mr McEntegart said the Superlambanana was yet to be valued. But he added: “The Superlambanana is arguably far more important to the region than Gormley’s work.”

HE SAID that, in 2004, Mr Chiezo signed a licensing agreement with a company called Blue Gnu to create miniatures for sale.

In June, 100 smaller sculptures will go on display in an exhibition called Go Superlambananas.

Six-foot replicas have already appeared in the foyer of The Capital and The Plaza, both in Old Hall Street.

The Malmaison Hotel’s “Superstarrylambanana” has been painted black and had lots of tiny holes cut into it to show the light placed inside.

Lady Jones, who was a committee member of the LADT, took care of the Superlambanana when it was situated outside JP Lamb ship chandlers, owned with husband Sir Trevor Jones in The Strand.

Last night, she said: “I didn’t like it when we first got it. But we gradually grew to love it.

“This city adopted it, this is a disgrace. I think people will be outraged in Liverpool even if they don’t like it, because it grows on you.”

She said that when the Superlambanana was outside JP Lamb the staff knew it was part of their job to look after it.

Having provided the paint when the Superlambanana was first built, they kept a spare tin of it to cover any graffiti.

Her doctor’s is near the current site of the sculpture. “Whenever we go there, we stop and say hello to Superlambanana.”

During its time in the city, it has been painted a number of different colours – pink to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, purple for the Smoke Free Liverpool campaign, and green.

Pranksters also did it up like a Friesian cow.

davidbartlett

[John(Zappa)]

Originally Posted by Kev

LIVERPOOL’S iconic Superlambanana sculpture could leave the city before the end of Capital of Culture year, the Daily Post can reveal.



LAST night, former Liverpool councillor Lady Doreen Jones, who used to look after the Superlambanana, said “it would be criminal” if it left the city and the prospect would create outrage.

Who by?

Mr McEntegart said the sculpture was originally commissioned in May, 1998, by the Artranspennine Exhibition.

The 17ft sculpture passed to the Liverpool Architect Design Trust (LADT) but Mr McEntegart said Liverpool City Council became the “custodians” of the sculpture when LADT folded.

Since its arrival, it has had various homes in the city, including outside ships chandlers JP Lamb, on The Strand, before it was demol-ished for redevelopment.

It currently stands guard outside the Liverpool John Moores University learning resource centre in Tithebarn Street.

Mr McEntegart said: “I have sent a letter to the Culture Company to say ‘do you know you don’t own it?’

“The Superlambanana has become a popular and iconic sculpture synonymous with Liverpool.

Since when?

“We have seen how much the people love it(err,no we don't) and the good feeling it gives to locals and tourists.(err,no it doesn't)

“To take it out of the city would be like removing the Mona Lisa from the Louvre.
It would sh*&e!!
“It belongs in the city and on a wider scale who knows what effect it may have on the local economy if it were to go.(No effect).
Taro would love it to stay in Liverpool.” (Put them around his house then)

But he said that his job was to secure a fair price for the work for his client.

“We are hoping Liverpool City Council will have the same foresight as Sefton Council who saw the benefit of buying art for the public and for tourism reward with the Gormley statues.”

The statues known as the Iron Men on Crosby beach cost more than £1m, but last night Mr McEntegart said the Superlambanana was yet to be valued. But he added: “The Superlambanana is arguably far more important to the region than Gormley’s work.”(No it isn't)

In June, 100 smaller sculptures will go on display in an exhibition called Go Superlambananas. (Oh No!!)

Six-foot replicas have already appeared in the foyer of The Capital and The Plaza, both in Old Hall Street.(and they are ugly).

The Malmaison Hotel’s “Superstarrylambanana” has been painted black and had lots of tiny holes cut into it to show the light placed inside.(Wow,a YTS job)

Lady Jones, who was a committee member of the LADT, took care of the Superlambanana when it was situated outside JP Lamb ship chandlers, owned with husband Sir Trevor Jones in The Strand.

Last night, she said: “I didn’t like it when we first got it. But we gradually grew to love it.(We?)

“This city adopted it, this is a disgrace. I think people will be outraged in Liverpool even if they don’t like it, because it grows on you.”(No it doesn't).

She said that when the Superlambanana was outside JP Lamb the staff knew it was part of their job to look after it.(Stupid).

Having provided the paint when the Superlambanana was first built, they kept a spare tin of it to cover any graffiti.

Her doctor’s is near the current site of the sculpture. “Whenever we go there, we stop and say hello to Superlambanana.”(White coats coming for you).

During its time in the city, it has been painted a number of different colours – pink to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, purple for the Smoke Free Liverpool campaign, and green.

Pranksters also did it up like a Friesian cow.(Good on em')

davidbartlett

Get rid of the useless ugly things and lets get a statue of Doddy erected BEFORE he dies!!!!

[Howie]

So fare thee well, my own true love
When I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling when I think of thee

[Kev]

almost snap:

[shoney]

I remember my old nan used say " good riddance to bad rubbish "

[Howie]

Created to comment on genetic enginering, the sculpture now symbolises the city’s maritime heritage
Feb 15 2008
by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

THE Superlambanana was originally created for the Artranspennine 98 festival, the largest art exhibition ever to be staged in Britain.

Artranspennine featured projects at 30 different sites between Liverpool and Hull – one of which was the Superlambanana.

Japanese artist Taro Chiezo based his work on some smaller sculptures, which he had exhibited in New York in 1994.

Working from a four-inch model provided by Chiezo, local man Andy Small was given the challenge of taking the design and increasing its size 50-fold.

Not only would the SLB be sizeable, it would also have to be comparatively light, transportable and resilient enough to withstand the elements.

Small and his team decided that the structure would be of hollow concrete, supported by steel and wire mesh, and stabilised with a foam-filled steel base.

When created in 1994, it was intended as an ironic comment on genetic engineering, but now in Liverpool has come to symbolise the city’s maritime heritage – the wool leaving the port and the fruit coming in.

“It’s an image for the future. We are planning for the future and this is a fusion of two things,” said the artist when it was unveiled in Liverpool in 1998.

The Superlambanana was made in the former Bryant & May matchworks, in Garston, by a team from Liverpool, before being transported to the Pier Head for a three-month stay.

Reaction was mixed, but the late poet Adrian Henri said it should be welcomed “with an open mind and, if needs be, a sense of humour”.

Miniature versions in a variety of colours and designs are now available to buy, and a version featuring artist Tony Brown’s famous image of the Liverpool Waterfront is due be launched this spring.

Source: Liverpool Daily Post

[Kev]

Originally Posted by Howie

Miniature versions in a variety of colours and designs are now available to buy, and a version featuring artist Tony Brown’s famous image of the Liverpool Waterfront is due be launched this spring.

Source: Liverpool Daily Post

Yes they are:

http://www.superlambbanana.com/home.php?/SHOP;page=3#29

[Ged]

Ron Formby of the Scottie Press has been working tirelessly with the Carters association about getting a monument erected in commemoration of the many thousands of Carters that were once a part of everyday life in the bustling city of Liverpool, particularly the busy dock road area. How about funding is put behind something that means something to the city for a change instead of some arty farty catalyst to genetically modified foods. I'm sure the tourists who stand next to it to be photographed or buy a replica in the 08 shop don't know its true meaning anyway.

[disco]

Sounds like a money making scam to me. Give me 10 million and you can have it or i will take it away. Crosby beach rings a bell

[shoney]

Francis McEntegart, of Chime Management, said figures in the arts world had already shown interest in buying the work – including a number in Manchester.


this whole sentence is hearsay and has no real stated fact yet could inflame a liverpool public to react , be it good ( lets go all out and keep this piece of shyte, ) or be it bad ( lets burn it and post the ashes to manchester if they want it so bad ) a real crap PR company must have been involved with this press release

[John(Zappa)]

Originally Posted by Ged

Ron Formby of the Scottie Press has been working tirelessly with the Carters association about getting a monument erected in commemoration of the many thousands of Carters that were once a part of everyday life in the bustling city of Liverpool, particularly the busy dock road area. How about funding is put behind something that means something to the city for a change instead of some arty farty catalyst to genetically modified foods. I'm sure the tourists who stand next to it to be photographed or buy a replica in the 08 shop don't know its true meaning anyway.

Now why didn't I say something like that?
Well said Ged.
I hate them,I gotta be honest I really hate them!!!!!

[Ged]

To be honest, I don't like or dislike it and only notice it when it's been changed to pink or lilac or green for some other campaign and if it brings joy to tourists or locals alike - great. However, I don't think people come to the city because of it so to make remarks about our economy possibly going down the chute if it goes sounds like scare mongering and blackmail. By all means keep it if it's free or very reasonably priced and I mean a couple of thousand as it still has to be maintained thereafter. If not - get rid. The designer can make his dosh from all the little replicas or if private businesses want one in their foyer.

[Max]

Originally Posted by Kev

almost snap:

It was better there than where It Is In Tithebarn street.

[Howie]

Superlambanana could be sold to Manchester
Feb 15 2008
by David Bartlett, Liverpool Echo



LIVERPOOL’S Superlambanana sculpture could leave the city before the end of Capital of Culture year.

The solicitor representing the Japanese creator Taro Chiezo has claimed the sculpture had only ever been on loan to Liverpool for 10 years from its arrival in 1998 and could be sold from May.

Francis McEntegart, of Chime Management, said figures in Manchester’s arts world had already shown interest in buying the work.

More...

[Ged]

Originally Posted by Howie

Superlambanana could be sold to Manchester

Is that supposed to be some sort of threat that would have us rushing through our pockets

[Howie]

Originally Posted by Ged

Is that supposed to be some sort of threat that would have us rushing through our pockets

Don't worry! - the mess the Lib-Dems have got the city in we couldn't afford to buy a bunch of bananas.

[HollyBlack]

Originally Posted by Ged

Is that supposed to be some sort of threat that would have us rushing through our pockets

Oh, for goodness sake let it go to Manchester!

It will always scream "Liverpool!" and what better place to do that than in Manchester? If "they" must (!) they can always erect a silly plaque that reads "Superlambanana once stood here".

Meanwhile, now there is to be a new terminal, Liverpool should work on recreating the old tradition of "Barrow Boys", casual vendors of cheap (surplus, second quality) fruit and vegetables - any new plans should give them legitimate spaces at key spots such as Lime St. station, Pier Head and Clayton Square. Much better than any fake banana. Public open-air hand-washing facilities with soap would be a healthy, nice and not terribly expensive touch. Under glass-topped open-side rain canopies of course.

[Max]

If this gets sent to Manchester then II might take a leak on It before It goes.

I would have to get up too early to take a dump on It and could not pull my pants up fast enough to escape the law In the evening.

Like a boy cat I am spraying my territory on It.

[Max]

Has Taro Chiezo commented on this other than through some slimy sounding Solicitor?

[Ged]

Originally Posted by Max

If this gets sent to Manchester then II might take a leak on It before It goes.

I would have to get up too early to take a dump on It and could not pull my pants up fast enough to escape the law In the evening.

Like a boy cat I am spraying my territory on It.

Ha ha lol

Imagining you steaming on in there (literally)

Well - the end bit anyway, pulling your knickers up before the fuzz arrives.