Author Topic: Save the Superlambanana? (Read 17660 times)

Beef · « **on:** February 15, 2008, 03:25:43 pm »

Quote

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.

Superlambanana is a 17ft sculpture weighing almost eight tons

It was created by Manhattan-based Taro Chiezo and built at the Bryant & May Matchworks at Speke.It cost £35,000.

The sculpture was meant to be a warning about the dangers of genetic engineering.

Superlambanana has not always been popular. When it was first proposed its design caused controversy.

It was originally sited at the Pier Head for three months.

Article here.

What do you think about it? Should it be kept in the city? I never even knew anything about this until I put City Talk on before and heard about a petition they've got going on: http://www.citytalk.fm/Article.asp?id=585782&spid=21009

Danny Boys Dad · « **Reply #1 on:** February 15, 2008, 03:34:54 pm »

If they can find the money for those daft statues at Crosby beach then surely they can find the money for the superlambanana, which is absolutely fantastic.

Andy @ Allerton! · « **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2008, 04:08:45 pm »

Generally speaking I dislike these kind of public statues - but I think that the Lambbanana is absolutely terrific - makes me smile everytime I see it - and there's loads of pubs with little copies of it. It's a great thing and if I saw it anywhere now - I'd always think of Liverpool - we should really be making sure it stays for good.

zimmie'5555 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2008, 04:37:29 pm »

Should be kept, along with the statues. I'm all for public art. As long as it does not involve mime artists of course.

realtarragona · « **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2008, 09:45:20 pm »

He wants £1 million for it doesn't he...

Veinticinco de Mayo · « **Reply #5 on:** February 15, 2008, 09:49:19 pm »

Shrewd bit of opportunistic timing by the artist and his legal team. Given it's capital of culture year and there is a whole Superlambanana parade kind of affair planned for the next few months then the council have got no option other than to buy.

I think we should buy it but the way the artist has cynically cashed in leaves a bad taste in my mouth (but then typical of the council who could have probably tied up the purchase for a fraction of that amount had they done so a year or two ago).

Something Else · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2008, 02:07:45 am »

well once he sells it we will finally be able to get the 10 years rent he owes

FlashingBlade · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2008, 09:43:09 am »

funny, ridiculed by the popular masses when it was erected ..now its "ours".....remember all those "aghast" at Alsop's Cloud?....we would now be embracing it as the 4th grace...where as now we are going to get a big block!

Also a group of "pranksters" painted it ..only for a business opportunity to be realised...and now the artist gets criticised for doing the same

LCC will be burdened by this , around £1m plus maintenance cost...if the People of Liverpool want it fine...but they have to pay ...£5 on each household community tax anyone?

BTW its stuck on Tithebarn st.....surely if we love it so much ( BTW I do) it should be in a more appropriate location....Broadway...??

Veinticinco de Mayo · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2008, 10:40:52 am »

Quote from: FlashingBlade on February 16, 2008, 09:43:09 am

funny, ridiculed by the popular masses when it was erected ..now its "ours".....remember all those "aghast" at Alsop's Cloud?....we would now be embracing it as the 4th grace...where as now we are going to get a big block!

Also a group of "pranksters" painted it ..only for a business opportunity to be realised...and now the artist gets criticised for doing the same

LCC will be burdened by this , around £1m plus maintenance cost...if the People of Liverpool want it fine...but they have to pay ...£5 on each household community tax anyone?

BTW its stuck on Tithebarn st.....surely if we love it so much ( BTW I do) it should be in a more appropriate location....Broadway...??

Agree totally on Alsop's cloud. The most spineless decision this council has taken, especially after allowing it to feature so prominently in the city of culture pitch. And yes, I think SLB should get a more prominent position. In front of St Georges Hall would be fun.

Tarpaulin · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2008, 05:36:54 pm »

Fuck them.....

Let it go and make a fuckin spot on replica before it leaves.

Million saved, and everyone will always know it was originally in Liverpool so presume the others MUST be copies.

FlashingBlade · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2008, 07:48:32 pm »

why not get a real lamb and real banana and............

tezmac · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2008, 09:14:52 pm »

Someone cashing in ?

DowntheLine1981 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2008, 03:53:49 pm »

Quote from: Veinticinco de Mayo on February 16, 2008, 10:40:52 am

Agree totally on Alsop's cloud. The most spineless decision this council has taken, especially after allowing it to feature so prominently in the city of culture pitch. And yes, I think SLB should get a more prominent position. In front of St Georges Hall would be fun.

Totally agree with you mate, but I fear that what with the Council's decision to quietly close Liverpool's only civic (ie publicaly owned) theatre - the Neptune Theatre - during culture year and the discovery that they don't even own a statue which has been blatantly milked as being part of our 'Scouse Cultural Heritage', this council has a lot to answer for. I think SLB is fantastic, loved it when it was first revealed and still love it now, even sent my gf's mother a post-card with it on a few weeks ago (she's a southern 'high culture' snob so it'll send her barmey)

... agree on your choice of location too... right outside Limestreet, waiting to greet people off the train from London...

Veinticinco de Mayo · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2008, 04:25:32 pm »

Quote from: DowntheLine1981 on February 19, 2008, 03:53:49 pm

Totally agree with you mate, but I fear that what with the Council's decision to quietly close Liverpool's only civic (ie publicaly owned) theatre - the Neptune Theatre - during culture year and the discovery that they don't even own a statue which has been blatantly milked as being part of our 'Scouse Cultural Heritage', this council has a lot to answer for. I think SLB is fantastic, loved it when it was first revealed and still love it now, even sent my gf's mother a post-card with it on a few weeks ago (she's a southern 'high culture' snob so it'll send her barmey)

... agree on your choice of location too... right outside Limestreet, waiting to greet people off the train from London...

Yep, and a nice contrast to the staid Victorian-ness of the Hall and it's associated statuary.

I've got the SLB on top of our telly

Kyle Soprano · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2008, 04:45:15 pm »

I hated the fucking thing at first but its grew on me steadily hope it stays.

HBOMB · « **Reply #15 on:** February 20, 2008, 10:10:24 pm »

My family and I have been living in Auckland New Zealand for the past 2 years. A friend of ours who works for the local council asked me one day what the Superlambanana was. When I asked her where she had heard of the superlambanana she told me that they are trying to raise the profile of Auckland round the world and it was suggested that a similar unique statue would help. If the impact of the statue is talked about down here it must be having a effect elsewhere as well.

Our friends are that interested in the Lamb Banana they are planning a family holiday to England with Liverpool there main base.

The Lamb Banana must stay.

Is it still regularly being moved to different location around the city ?

FlashingBlade · « **Reply #16 on:** February 20, 2008, 10:15:23 pm »

Quote from: Veinticinco de Mayo on February 19, 2008, 04:25:32 pm

Yep, and a nice contrast to the staid Victorian-ness of the Hall and it's associated statuary.

I've got the SLB on top of our telly

thats it then , stick it on top of the big screen in town!!.....

DowntheLine1981 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 21, 2008, 08:59:03 am »

lol, how about in Matthew Street opposite the Cavern with a sign around its neck saying 'its not the real Cavern, its just a money making scheme'? No? Well I would anyway.

Ryde-On · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2008, 09:07:44 am »

Quote from: FlashingBlade on February 16, 2008, 09:43:09 am

funny, ridiculed by the popular masses when it was erected ..now its "ours".....remember all those "aghast" at Alsop's Cloud?....we would now be embracing it as the 4th grace...where as now we are going to get a big block!

Also a group of "pranksters" painted it ..only for a business opportunity to be realised...and now the artist gets criticised for doing the same

LCC will be burdened by this , around £1m plus maintenance cost...if the People of Liverpool want it fine...but they have to pay ...£5 on each household community tax anyone?

BTW its stuck on Tithebarn st.....surely if we love it so much ( BTW I do) it should be in a more appropriate location....Broadway...??

Is correct.

That Cloud would have been mega. Instead we get a load of car parks. Fucking brilliant. Have yous SEEN the one by the bottom of Duke Street/Paradise St? Why the fuck have they put that white corrugated sheeting over the front??? And that half-finished structure they've decided not to bother finishing at all down by the Malmaison and turn that into a Car Park??? On a fucking World Heritage seafront??

The Council are total and utter fuckwits and deserve to be bled dry even by scum like Francis McEntagart (who is also a fucking shit lawyer - which I will attest to).

Andy @ Allerton! · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:11:36 pm »

Quote from: Ryde-On on February 21, 2008, 09:07:44 am

Is correct.

That Cloud would have been mega. Instead we get a load of car parks. Fucking brilliant. Have yous SEEN the one by the bottom of Duke Street/Paradise St? Why the fuck have they put that white corrugated sheeting over the front??? And that half-finished structure they've decided not to bother finishing at all down by the Malmaison and turn that into a Car Park??? On a fucking World Heritage seafront??

The Council are total and utter fuckwits and deserve to be bled dry even by scum like Francis McEntagart (who is also a fucking shit lawyer - which I will attest to).

that cloud was minging

trigger · « **Reply #20 on:** February 21, 2008, 03:58:36 pm »

costs a small fortune in yellow paint to re-do it after some wag draws an arsehole on it anyway

Aldridge 8 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 23, 2008, 02:11:33 am »

yes i really like to see the lamb banana while i am working in town , its a piece of art i like a lot , it must be saved .

Ryde-On · « **Reply #22 on:** February 23, 2008, 11:22:48 am »

Quote from: Andy @ Allerton on February 21, 2008, 12:11:36 pm

that cloud was minging

and the Car Park that's there instead isn't?

MerseyRed · « **Reply #23 on:** February 25, 2008, 12:59:00 am »

Can't wait to see the stupid thing gone.

Joshytoohotty · « **Reply #24 on:** February 25, 2008, 03:17:57 pm »

Quote from: DowntheLine1981 on February 21, 2008, 08:59:03 am

lol, how about in Matthew Street opposite the Cavern with a sign around its neck saying 'its not the real Cavern, its just a money making scheme'? No? Well I would anyway.

Ryde-On · « **Reply #25 on:** February 25, 2008, 10:24:06 pm »

Quote from: MerseyRed on February 25, 2008, 12:59:00 am

Can't wait to see the stupid thing gone.

Yeah, fuck anything interesting. Let's build a Wetherspoon on every fucking corner too.

DowntheLine1981 · « **Reply #26 on:** March 1, 2008, 01:08:20 pm »

The whole point of Art is that it divides opinions and provokes debate and discussion, even if that discussion is down to the very basic level of "I like it/hate it". The very fact that we are in a forum discussing a piece of public artwork is testament itself to Superlambanna's relevancy, and further adds to the argument that it should remain in Liverpool as a piece of provocative public art. It adds character to the city, and promotes a civic interest in the city's surroundings.

... Liverpool is on course to become a world class city, lets make it one with character!

The Albert Cock · « **Reply #27 on:** March 3, 2008, 09:21:33 am »

Quote from: DowntheLine1981 on March 1, 2008, 01:08:20 pm

The whole point of Art is that it divides opinions and provokes debate and discussion, even if that discussion is down to the very basic level of "I like it/hate it". The very fact that we are in a forum discussing a piece of public artwork is testament itself to Superlambanna's relevancy, and further adds to the argument that it should remain in Liverpool as a piece of provocative public art. It adds character to the city, and promotes a civic interest in the city's surroundings.

... Liverpool is on course to become a world class city, lets make it one with character!

exactly what i said about antony gormleys 'another place'

Ben S · « **Reply #28 on:** March 3, 2008, 10:01:03 am »

Quote from: Ryde-On on February 21, 2008, 09:07:44 am

Have yous SEEN the one by the bottom of Duke Street/Paradise St? Why the fuck have they put that white corrugated sheeting over the front???

Because it overlooks a major terrorist target?

Alan_X · « **Reply #29 on:** March 3, 2008, 10:46:08 am »

Quote from: Veinticinco de Mayo on February 16, 2008, 10:40:52 am

Agree totally on Alsop's cloud. The most spineless decision this council has taken, especially after allowing it to feature so prominently in the city of culture pitch. And yes, I think SLB should get a more prominent position. In front of St Georges Hall would be fun.

No mate, you really dodged a bullet with Alsop in my opinion. Have a look at The Public in the Midlands, which has been a disaster, or his dire Palestra office block in Southwark. I'd also recommend having a look at the Sharp centre in Toronto if you are ever there. Like a lot of his buildings it creates some of the worst "public" spaces I have ever seen (the area around Peckham Library is another case in point).

Ben S · « **Reply #30 on:** March 3, 2008, 10:56:42 am »

Unfortunately the clouds replacement is going to take the skyline from something like

To

They are images from the future as noted by King Edward Tower in the background

Pics stolen from http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=218018&page=43

blurred · « **Reply #31 on:** March 3, 2008, 07:54:15 pm »

Quote from: Ben S on March 3, 2008, 10:01:03 am

Because it overlooks a major terrorist target?

My office?

Ben S · « **Reply #32 on:** March 3, 2008, 08:00:41 pm »

You working in the bizzie HQ now?

Ben S · « **Reply #33 on:** March 3, 2008, 08:10:43 pm »

It could have been a bike bomb, surprised it wasn't blown up.

blurred · « **Reply #34 on:** March 3, 2008, 08:24:30 pm »

Quote from: Ben S on March 3, 2008, 08:10:43 pm

It could have been a bike bomb, surprised it wasn't blown up.

My tyres were blown up...

The Fletcher Memorial · « **Reply #35 on:** June 16, 2008, 08:07:13 am »

Have you seen the little Lamb Bananas about.

I was coming home from me ma's in Kirkby and the was one by the shops on Longmore Lane, then strangely, another outside the Nat West opposite the Black Bull. Both surrounded by kids (think they may have been involved). Smart they were.

Won't be looking like that in a few days no doubt, though.

spencer · « **Reply #36 on:** June 16, 2008, 08:32:33 am »

There are 120 of the mini SLBs about.

There is a good thread on Skyscrapercity where people are posting pictures.

Hope they all stay!

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=645754

ATEAMOFCARRAGHERS · « **Reply #37 on:** June 16, 2008, 12:35:20 pm »

seen the one painted in a liverpool kit outside clubshop in williamson sq.

SPLee · « **Reply #38 on:** June 16, 2008, 03:40:54 pm »

One of them is called SuperlambBENITEZ

Little goatee beard, red scarf tis class

blurred · « **Reply #39 on:** June 16, 2008, 03:57:03 pm »

Quote from: SPLee on June 16, 2008, 03:40:54 pm

One of them is called SuperlambBENITEZ

Little goatee beard, red scarf tis class

Thought it was called 'Baa-nitez'?

Poll

Do you want the Superlambanana to stay in Liverpool?

Author Topic: Save the Superlambanana? (Read 17660 times)