Superlambanana

Superlambanas have become familiar features of the Liverpool psyche. During the city's reign as European Capital of Culture 2008 over 100 superlambananas appeared around the city, in all sorts of public places; outside public and civic buildings and beside traditional monuments and on traffic islands, it seemed that any prominent piece of land became occupied with a superlambana, always "dressed" in appropriate garb. There were Keep Fit superlambananas, Liverpool F.C. superlambanas, Everton F.C. superlambanas, Beatles superlambanas. Some superlambanas wore spectacles, wellies or even high heeled shoes. Children loved them, they loved spotting them - they seemed to turn up anywhere and everywhere!

The City Council eventually auctioned the superlambanas and they became the property of private owners, who now display them outside various institutions, banks, office blocks, etc. and they are still as popular as ever.

The Super Lamb Banana was the original work of Japanese-based artist Taro Chiezo. Commissioned for the Art Transpennine Exhibition of 1998, the sculpture was a controversial, but welcome addition to the public art arena in Liverpool. Standing an impressive seventeen feet tall, the original superlambanana was built of concrete and steel and painted yellow. The unusual artwork was created to warn of the dangers of genetically modified food, whilst (sort of) being appropriate to the city of Liverpool due to the port's rich history in the trade of lambs and the import of bananas.