Join Liverpool Daily Post’s fight to save Superlambanana

Feb 16 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

TODAY the Liverpool Daily Post launches a campaign to save the city’s iconic Superlambanana sculpture.

It comes after we exclusively revealed yesterday that the popular attraction could be sold – possibly even to Manchester.

Last night, Liverpool Culture Company conceded it did not own the unique artwork and said it was willing to start discussions with the artist about buying the sculpture.

The Daily Post understands there is also significant interest from private individuals and companies to buy the artwork.

Culture Company officials last night said the loan agreement with the city comes to an end on December 31, 2008 after which time Japanese artist Taro Chiezo will be free to exercise his right to claim back the icon.

A Culture Company spokesman said: “It’s something we will be looking into. We look forward to further discussions on the matter.”

Last night, key figures from the art world, politics, and the public sector backed the Daily Post’s campaign.

Mr Chiezo is being represented by city solicitor Francis McEntegart who said his client was not trying to hold Liverpool to ransom but wanted a fair price for his work.

“We are not looking for anything crazy.

“It’s great they [the Culture Company] have said that. We wrote to them as a courtesy as they have looked after it so they are the right people to keep it here.”

Liverpool Riverside MP Louise Ellman said: “It would be dreadful if Superlambanana left Liverpool, it’s now part of the our city and is our trade mark – it must be saved.

“We must find a way of keeping it here, it is too much a part of the city to let it go.”

STEVE Broomhead, chief executive of the North West Development Agency, said: “Although it was controversial in the early days, it has become one of the icons and symbols of Liverpool.

“I am happy to be a very strong supporter of the campaign to retain it, for it to disappear would be a tragedy.”

He wanted to join a partnership to see what can be done to keep it.

Liverpool artist Alex Corina, who campaigned for the Superlambanana to be moved to Garston because of the area’s historic link with the sheep and banana trade, also backed the campaign.

“It is the artist’s right to get financial benefit as much as recognition for their work – clearly the artist may not feel that is the case at the moment.

“I am supportive of the campaign because it is such an icon. It’s a great idea to run a campaign to keep the Superlambanana. I of course would be arguing for it to come home to Garston.”

The Superlambanana was originally commissioned in May, 1998, by the Artranspennine Exhibition.

The 17ft sculpture passed to the Liverpool Architectural Design Trust (LADT) to act as “custodians” and was handed to the council 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 demolished for redevelopment. It currently stands guard outside the Liverpool John Moores University learning resource centre in Tithebarn Street.

davidbartlett