Superlambananas in need of homes - at £3,500 each

Sep 9 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Superlambananas at St George's Hall _320

THE Go Superlambananas that roamed the streets of Liverpool over the summer will find permanent homes this evening when they are auctioned off for charity.

Asking prices are starting at the £3,500 mark for 70 of the mini- sculptures at the event being held at St George’s Hall tonight.

Nearly 120 customised Superlambananas were dotted around the city for the popular 10-week public art event.

The most in-demand up for grabs tonight are expected to be the Baa-Nitez (a likeness of Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez), Peel (like the original, but with a peeled banana tail), and the Superlightbanana (the illuminated sculpture that was situated in St George’s Hall) – all of which have reserve prices of £8,000.

Three-quarters of the proceeds will go to the Lord Mayor’s Charity Appeal, which is supporting The Alder Hey Imagine Appeal, The Marina Dalglish Appeal, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital’s Merseybeat Appeal and the Liverpool and South Sefton Branch of the Alzheimer’s Society.

The auction will be run by Sutton Kersh, who will be switching their attentions from the region’s property to quirky sculptures.

Auctioneer James Kersh said: "We were delighted to get involved, it’s a great privilege in Capital of Culture year and Go Superlambananas pretty much captured the hearts of everybody.

"It’s a chance to do something a little more lighthearted than property transactions, and hopefully with the buzz there has been, we’ll sell 100%, which isn’t often achieved in auction rooms.

"There’s been an overwhelming response from people.

"It’s such a unique opportunity to buy a piece of artwork that from an investment point of view will only increase in value over the years.

"It’s been great fun – if only everyone lived in Superlambananas."

The Superlambananas taking part in the auction have been positioned outside St George’s Hall for potential viewers to see.

The £40 tickets for the auction have become some of the hottest in town, after the 500 capacity event sold out well in advance.

Those not able to attend are able to register to bid by proxy or by telephone.

It is mostly set to attract busi- nesses keen to secure the un- wieldy sculptures for their office grounds, although some private buyers will be among the bidders – and Liv- erpool player Jamie Carragher has said he will definitely be bidding, though perhaps not for the Baa-Nitez. Some 34 more Superlam- bananas will then be sold in an inter- net auction beginning on September 16and running for one week.

FOR more information, visit www.gosuperlambananas.co.uk/auction.

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk