Superlambanana art: £120,000 otherwise it’s ‘robbery’ says expert

Mar 14 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

A WELL-KNOWN Liverpool antique and art dealer last night said the city should pay no more than £120,000 for the Superlambanana artwork.

Wayne Colquhoun, who runs his fine art and antique empo-rium in India Buildings, Water Street, said suggestions the 17ft sculpture was worth around £1m were in “Superlambanana-land”.

The Daily Post is currently campaigning to keep the icon in Liverpool after it was revealed it could be sold – possibly to Manchester.

Francis McEntegart, who represents Japanese artist Taro Chiezo, and the Liverpool Culture Company are currently locked in a dispute over ownership.

Despite having said last month that the artwork was on loan to the city, the Culture Company has demanded Mr McEntegart proves his client owns the work.

Mr McEntegart insists his client just wants a fair price for the sculpture, and has agreed to let an independent valuer say how much it is worth.

Mr Colquhoun, who has not been approached to be the valuer, last night said: “The full reality of art is how much anyone is prepared to pay for it.

“As a city, if more than £120,000 were paid for it, it would be robbery.

He said the fact that replicas had appeared “everywhere” in the city had devalued the original itself. “They are trying to build up that the original is the first icon piece, but it was not even hand- made by the artist.”

The Superlambanana was constructed in the former Bryant & May matchworks, in Speke-Garston, by a local team.

He said another factor in the valuation was the condition of the artwork, which currently stands outside John Moores University learning resource centre, in Tithebarn Street.

The sculpture and its paintwork are in need of maintenance, said Mr Colquhuoun.

“To be talking of £1m is a figure from Superlambanana-land, the valuation has to be kept in perspective.

“It is worth £120,000.”

YESTERDAY, one of the replica Superlambananas that forms part of the Go Superlambananas exhibition for Capital of Culture was moved for use in an annual property networking event.

The Superlambanana moved from its temporary home at The Plaza, oOld Hall Street, to its new home at 20 Chapel Street in time for the “Liverpool Cannes Do”.

The Liverpool Cannes Do, hosted by Merseyside Property Forum for a fourth year, is a fun charity event for Liverpool’s property professionals and an answer to MIPIM, the Cannes international property expo.

davidbartlett