Iconic sculpture gets hospital treatment

Dec 17 2007 by Philip Key, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL’S favourite fantasy creature, the Superlambanana, was looking decidedly different.

The yellow sculpture, half lamb, half banana, was covered in deadly bacteria.

The copy of the sculpture at Aintree University Hospital’s Fazakerley site is part of a large art project at the hospital.

A team of artists was called in to create work for the hospital trust, backed by the National Lottery’s Local Heritage Initiative.

Helping put the art works together has been University Hospital Aintree’s newly-appointed arts coordinator Paula O’Malley.

“I was absolutely delighted when I realised that staging the Heritage project would be one of my first tasks,” she says.

“University Hospital Aintree is such an up-to-date hospital that it’s easy to forget it has such an amazing history.

“Fortunately, we have been given an opportunity to re-tell some of that history in a way that will make it accessible to all.

“This is something that everyone who has been to the hospital will no doubt be interested in, with nostalgic photographs and historic tales being told.

“From the days when it was a fever hospital to the hive of activity it is today, it is a fascinating place – and we think both the public and patients will benefit from this uplifting series of events.”

The Superlambanana was created in 1998 by Japanese artist Taro Chiezo, and is said to warn of the dangers of genetic interference.

It has since been moved around the city and at times painted different colours both officially and unofficially.

The copy at the hospital has been painted in images of deadly viruses alongside a hospital bed that is being used as a blank canvas for artists. Five artists have been involved in the project at Fazakerley – Laurence Payot is a French artist living in Liverpool, Mark Mennell creates abstract and original wall art, Norma Heron is a textile artist who has previously worked at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Vic (the only name she uses) is an artist who is part of the Liverpool Biennial Pool, a group of educators, and Jemma Egan is in a new city artist group, The Royal Standard.

They have all spent some months working on individual projects based on the hospital’s history.

Meanwhile, actress and writer Emma Vaudrey has written a short drama which will be acted by children from St Benedict’s Primary School, in Netherton, and performed at various locations throughout the hospital over the next few weeks.

A temporary photographic exhibition is also on show at the Trust’s Walton site.

The Heritage Project will run until the end of February and end with the completion of the final commissioned artwork and publication of a booklet of history highlights.

A permanent exhibition can be seen at various locations along the main hospital corridor.

philkey@dailypost.co.uk