The Superlambanana statues all ready for display as Clare Danon looks on _320
As the city prepares for its Superlambananas celebration, Vicky Anderson looks at the success of these bizarre creatures
FROM today, Liverpool will be awash with more than one hundred bizarre little creatures that have become an unofficial, yet undeniable symbol of the city.
Go Superlambananas is now under way, and for the next 10 weeks the public can have fun spotting the 119 customised replicas of the famous statue that will be dotted in locations all over the city and surrounding areas.
Sally-Ann Wilkinson, director of Wild in Art, the company behind the event, said it had been emotional seeing the project come to fruition.
She said: “This couldn’t have happened in any other city in the world. Only Liverpool could have embraced the creativity of this event with such excitement and commitment.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of sponsors and the talents of the artists, and how they have come together with such good will and passion.
“I’m hoping it will make people smile, and when people walk into work they will stop and enjoy it.”
As far as Culture Year events go, it’s Go Superlambananas which so far seems to have captured the imaginations of everyone from the big guns to the little fish.
Some 27 community groups and 96 sponsors have been involved in Go Superlambananas, and most of the sculptures will be auctioned off for charity at the end of the run.
Ms Wilkinson added: “It was a very ambitious project, and there have been only four of us working on it full time.
“I’m not going to pretend it’s not been hard work, but I hope its legacy will be that it has brought the business and creative sectors closer together.
“As well as that, I wanted it to embrace Liverpool communities, and really wanted the neighbourhoods to feel part of this big event, and I’m hoping that’s what we’ve achieved.”
From schools and hospitals to the city’s biggest firms and best-loved personalities, everyone has been getting involved.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said his replica Baa-nitez, designed and sponsored by Finch – The Ideas Agency, was “a great idea and a lot of fun”.
LFC itself are taking on their own kitted-out SLB, as are footballing rivals Everton.
Darren Griffiths, media and publications manager at Everton FC said: “The Superlambanana has become synonymous with the city, and we are delighted to have an Everton-themed one. Our new kit is launched next month, so it’s entirely appropriate that the ‘lambanana has it on.
“I’m sure our supporters will enjoy seeing it outside Goodison Park, and it’s a welcome addition to the Everton family.”
Three will be found at the Albert Dock, where director Joe Edge said: “We are delighted to be hosting three Superlambananas to be enjoyed by visitors locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
“It will be a great addition and will be a fantastic spectacle as part of the wider event.” But it is not all bling.
ARTIST Holly Langley designed a Superlambanana for the TUC, titled Our Working Community, and featuring multi-ethnic characters working in a variety of professions.
“The more I worked on it, the more I realised what a big thing it is for Liverpool, and it’s been great to work with other artists.”
Wade Deacon High School won a competition to design their very own Superlambanana, which reflects the attitudes of youth in today’s society.
“Our design was inspired by the way children label each other as Goths, Chavs or other,” the pupils wrote. “We want to mix the different cultures together to show how society in the North West has grown over the years.”
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has sponsored the Super “kalazar” banana, which even has its own Facebook following.
It is an artistic interpretation of its work into the tropical disease Leishmaniasis, more present in the UK than ever because of troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Cllr Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council and deputy chairman of Liverpool Culture Company, said: “Since its arrival, the Superlambanana has captured the hearts and imagination of residents and has intrigued visitors to this city.
“It has become a much loved symbol of the city’s regeneration, and we are delighted the people of Liverpool, many of whom have been directly involved in this event, can now enjoy their favourite piece of sculpture in many different guises.”
Phil Redmond, deputy chairman of the Liverpool Culture Company, added: “Go Superlambananas is a fantastic example of public art which everyone can enjoy. The public’s engagement with the Culture Year is key to its success – not just in the city centre, but out in the neighbourhoods and beyond. This event has involved everyone from big business to small community groups and that’s quite an achievement. We hope everyone will come and visit the trail to see one of the most impressive art exhibitions the region has ever seen.”
Around 200,000 maps of the trail showing where Superlambanana can be found are available from outlets including the 08 Place and Merseytravel information centre.
It is supported by Liverpool City Council and the Culture Company.
FOR a copy of the Superlambanana trail map, CLICK HERE
