sentences.text: The Super Lamb Banana is a bright yellow sculpture located in Liverpool, England.
sentences.text: The
sentences.text: Super
sentences.text: Lamb
sentences.text: Banana
sentences.text: is
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: bright
sentences.text: yellow
sentences.text: sculpture
sentences.text: located
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: England
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: Weighing almost eight tons and standing at 17 feet tall, it is intended to be a cross between a banana and a lamb and was created by Manhattan-based Japanese artist Taro Chiezo.
sentences.text: Weighing
sentences.text: almost
sentences.text: eight
sentences.text: tons
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: standing
sentences.text: at
sentences.text: 17
sentences.text: feet
sentences.text: tall
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: it
sentences.text: is
sentences.text: intended
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: be
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: cross
sentences.text: between
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: banana
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: lamb
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: created
sentences.text: by
sentences.text: Manhattan-based
sentences.text: Japanese
sentences.text: artist
sentences.text: Taro
sentences.text: Chiezo
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: It currently stands in Tithebarn Street, outside the Liverpool John Moores University Avril Robarts Library/Learning Resource Centre, having previously been located on Wapping near the Albert Dock.
sentences.text: It
sentences.text: currently
sentences.text: stands
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: Tithebarn
sentences.text: Street
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: outside
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: John
sentences.text: Moores
sentences.text: University
sentences.text: Avril
sentences.text: Robarts
sentences.text: Library/Learning
sentences.text: Resource
sentences.text: Centre
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: having
sentences.text: previously
sentences.text: been
sentences.text: located
sentences.text: on
sentences.text: Wapping
sentences.text: near
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: Albert
sentences.text: Dock
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: The sculpture spawned the commissioning of 125 individually designed, miniature replicas as part of Liverpool's year-long European Capital of Culture event.
sentences.text: The
sentences.text: sculpture
sentences.text: spawned
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: commissioning
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: 125
sentences.text: individually
sentences.text: designed
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: miniature
sentences.text: replicas
sentences.text: as
sentences.text: part
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: 's
sentences.text: year-long
sentences.text: European
sentences.text: Capital
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: Culture
sentences.text: event
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: The sculpture was created for the ArtTransPennine Exhibition in 1998, part of an initiative to create a 'corridor of art' through the North of England.
sentences.text: The
sentences.text: sculpture
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: created
sentences.text: for
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: ArtTransPennine
sentences.text: Exhibition
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: 1998
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: part
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: an
sentences.text: initiative
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: create
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: 'corridor
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: art
sentences.text: '
sentences.text: through
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: North
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: England
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: Liverpool's contribution, designed by Japanese artist Taro Chiezo, was the SuperLambBanana which was unveiled to the city at the reopening of Liverpool's branch of the famous Tate Gallery.
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: 's
sentences.text: contribution
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: designed
sentences.text: by
sentences.text: Japanese
sentences.text: artist
sentences.text: Taro
sentences.text: Chiezo
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: SuperLambBanana
sentences.text: which
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: unveiled
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: city
sentences.text: at
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: reopening
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: 's
sentences.text: branch
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: famous
sentences.text: Tate
sentences.text: Gallery
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: An ironic comment on the dangers of genetic engineering, it was developed with the city specifically in mind as both the banana and lamb were once a common cargo in Liverpool's bustling docks . .
sentences.text: An
sentences.text: ironic
sentences.text: comment
sentences.text: on
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: dangers
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: genetic
sentences.text: engineering
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: it
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: developed
sentences.text: with
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: city
sentences.text: specifically
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: mind
sentences.text: as
sentences.text: both
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: banana
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: lamb
sentences.text: were
sentences.text: once
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: common
sentences.text: cargo
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: 's
sentences.text: bustling
sentences.text: docks
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: The thinking behind Chiezo's SuperLambBanana was the creation of something that 'spoke of the future of 90's Liverpool'.
sentences.text: The
sentences.text: thinking
sentences.text: behind
sentences.text: Chiezo
sentences.text: 's
sentences.text: SuperLambBanana
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: creation
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: something
sentences.text: that
sentences.text: 'spoke
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: future
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: 90
sentences.text: 's
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: '
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: He had previously visited the city and been inspired by the Queensway Tunnel's ventilation shaft, in particular the symbolism of how a vital piece of 1930's engineering had been incorporated into a broader 'sculpture' (or in this case an aesthetically attractive building).
sentences.text: He
sentences.text: had
sentences.text: previously
sentences.text: visited
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: city
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: been
sentences.text: inspired
sentences.text: by
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: Queensway
sentences.text: Tunnel
sentences.text: 's
sentences.text: ventilation
sentences.text: shaft
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: particular
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: symbolism
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: how
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: vital
sentences.text: piece
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: 1930
sentences.text: 's
sentences.text: engineering
sentences.text: had
sentences.text: been
sentences.text: incorporated
sentences.text: into
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: broader
sentences.text: 'sculpture
sentences.text: '
sentences.text: (
sentences.text: or
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: this
sentences.text: case
sentences.text: an
sentences.text: aesthetically
sentences.text: attractive
sentences.text: building
sentences.text: )
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: Chiezo himself made only a four-inch model, and it was up to local sculptor Andy Small to recreate it on a scale of 1:50.
sentences.text: Chiezo
sentences.text: himself
sentences.text: made
sentences.text: only
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: four-inch
sentences.text: model
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: it
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: up
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: local
sentences.text: sculptor
sentences.text: Andy
sentences.text: Small
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: recreate
sentences.text: it
sentences.text: on
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: scale
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: 1:50
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: It was created using a wire-mesh frame that supported a concrete and fibreglass shell and was developed at the former Bryant and May Matchworks factory in the south of the City at a total cost of 35,000.
sentences.text: It
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: created
sentences.text: using
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: wire-mesh
sentences.text: frame
sentences.text: that
sentences.text: supported
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: concrete
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: fibreglass
sentences.text: shell
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: developed
sentences.text: at
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: former
sentences.text: Bryant
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: May
sentences.text: Matchworks
sentences.text: factory
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: south
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: City
sentences.text: at
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: total
sentences.text: cost
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: 35,000
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: The sculpture was at first considered controversial and there was scepticism regarding its purpose and value.
sentences.text: The
sentences.text: sculpture
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: at
sentences.text: first
sentences.text: considered
sentences.text: controversial
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: there
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: scepticism
sentences.text: regarding
sentences.text: its
sentences.text: purpose
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: value
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: However it soon became a popular symbol in the city and a valued piece of public art.
sentences.text: However
sentences.text: it
sentences.text: soon
sentences.text: became
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: popular
sentences.text: symbol
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: city
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: valued
sentences.text: piece
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: public
sentences.text: art
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: Since the sculpture's conception it was intended to move around the city and not remain in one location.
sentences.text: Since
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: sculpture
sentences.text: 's
sentences.text: conception
sentences.text: it
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: intended
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: move
sentences.text: around
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: city
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: not
sentences.text: remain
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: one
sentences.text: location
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: It was originally located on the Strand near Liverpool's famous Liver Building and has since been located in several places including Williamson Square, Spike Island in Halton, Cheshire, and on Wapping, close to the Albert Dock.
sentences.text: It
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: originally
sentences.text: located
sentences.text: on
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: Strand
sentences.text: near
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: 's
sentences.text: famous
sentences.text: Liver
sentences.text: Building
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: has
sentences.text: since
sentences.text: been
sentences.text: located
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: several
sentences.text: places
sentences.text: including
sentences.text: Williamson
sentences.text: Square
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: Spike
sentences.text: Island
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: Halton
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: Cheshire
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: on
sentences.text: Wapping
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: close
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: Albert
sentences.text: Dock
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: Council leader Warren Bradley also suggested that the sculpture could be moved to Garston in the south of the city in the near future.
sentences.text: Council
sentences.text: leader
sentences.text: Warren
sentences.text: Bradley
sentences.text: also
sentences.text: suggested
sentences.text: that
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: sculpture
sentences.text: could
sentences.text: be
sentences.text: moved
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: Garston
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: south
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: city
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: near
sentences.text: future
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: Although its usual colour is yellow, the statue has occasionally been given a temporary repaint as part of a sponsorship arrangement.
sentences.text: Although
sentences.text: its
sentences.text: usual
sentences.text: colour
sentences.text: is
sentences.text: yellow
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: statue
sentences.text: has
sentences.text: occasionally
sentences.text: been
sentences.text: given
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: temporary
sentences.text: repaint
sentences.text: as
sentences.text: part
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: sponsorship
sentences.text: arrangement
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: Colours have included pink, during a period of sponsorship by the breast cancer awareness charity Breakthrough, the colours of a Friesian cow during a period of 'quasi-vandalism', and purple during the SmokeFree Liverpool campaign.
sentences.text: Colours
sentences.text: have
sentences.text: included
sentences.text: pink
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: during
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: period
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: sponsorship
sentences.text: by
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: breast
sentences.text: cancer
sentences.text: awareness
sentences.text: charity
sentences.text: Breakthrough
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: colours
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: Friesian
sentences.text: cow
sentences.text: during
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: period
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: 'quasi-vandalism'
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: purple
sentences.text: during
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: SmokeFree
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: campaign
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: There has been a great deal of speculation about the future of the sculpture after it emerged that it was only on loan to the city council from the artist and it had been suggested that the sculpture could be sold to Liverpool's neighbour Manchester.
sentences.text: There
sentences.text: has
sentences.text: been
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: great
sentences.text: deal
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: speculation
sentences.text: about
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: future
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: sculpture
sentences.text: after
sentences.text: it
sentences.text: emerged
sentences.text: that
sentences.text: it
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: only
sentences.text: on
sentences.text: loan
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: city
sentences.text: council
sentences.text: from
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: artist
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: it
sentences.text: had
sentences.text: been
sentences.text: suggested
sentences.text: that
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: sculpture
sentences.text: could
sentences.text: be
sentences.text: sold
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: 's
sentences.text: neighbour
sentences.text: Manchester
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: Talks between the Liverpool Culture Company and representatives of Taro Chiezo occurred in September 2008 although its long term future still remains unknown.
sentences.text: Talks
sentences.text: between
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: Culture
sentences.text: Company
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: representatives
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: Taro
sentences.text: Chiezo
sentences.text: occurred
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: September
sentences.text: 2008
sentences.text: although
sentences.text: its
sentences.text: long
sentences.text: term
sentences.text: future
sentences.text: still
sentences.text: remains
sentences.text: unknown
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: As part of Liverpool's Capital of Culture celebrations, 125 two metre high replicas of SuperLambBanana were commissioned and located throughout Liverpool and the surrounding areas.
sentences.text: As
sentences.text: part
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: 's
sentences.text: Capital
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: Culture
sentences.text: celebrations
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: 125
sentences.text: two
sentences.text: metre
sentences.text: high
sentences.text: replicas
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: SuperLambBanana
sentences.text: were
sentences.text: commissioned
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: located
sentences.text: throughout
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: surrounding
sentences.text: areas
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: The mini SuperLambBananas were developed in partnership between the Liverpool Culture Company and Wild in Art, with each one being sponsored by a local institution or business and designed by local community members.
sentences.text: The
sentences.text: mini
sentences.text: SuperLambBananas
sentences.text: were
sentences.text: developed
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: partnership
sentences.text: between
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: Culture
sentences.text: Company
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: Wild
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: Art
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: with
sentences.text: each
sentences.text: one
sentences.text: being
sentences.text: sponsored
sentences.text: by
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: local
sentences.text: institution
sentences.text: or
sentences.text: business
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: designed
sentences.text: by
sentences.text: local
sentences.text: community
sentences.text: members
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: The miniature SuperLambBananas were on display for ten weeks, from the June to August 2008.
sentences.text: The
sentences.text: miniature
sentences.text: SuperLambBananas
sentences.text: were
sentences.text: on
sentences.text: display
sentences.text: for
sentences.text: ten
sentences.text: weeks
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: from
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: June
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: August
sentences.text: 2008
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: The Liverpool Echo partnered with the event, releasing a location map and guide of every mini SuperLambBanana to encourage locals to get involved.
sentences.text: The
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: Echo
sentences.text: partnered
sentences.text: with
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: event
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: releasing
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: location
sentences.text: map
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: guide
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: every
sentences.text: mini
sentences.text: SuperLambBanana
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: encourage
sentences.text: locals
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: get
sentences.text: involved
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: All but two of them were located within the Merseyside area.
sentences.text: All
sentences.text: but
sentences.text: two
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: them
sentences.text: were
sentences.text: located
sentences.text: within
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: Merseyside
sentences.text: area
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: Lovemedoodle was located at Euston railway station in London for a short while until it was moved back to Liverpool Lime Street station, whilst The Highest SuperLambBanana was located on top of Moel Famau in North Wales and was sponsored by Denbighshire County Council.
sentences.text: Lovemedoodle
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: located
sentences.text: at
sentences.text: Euston
sentences.text: railway
sentences.text: station
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: London
sentences.text: for
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: short
sentences.text: while
sentences.text: until
sentences.text: it
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: moved
sentences.text: back
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: Lime
sentences.text: Street
sentences.text: station
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: whilst
sentences.text: The
sentences.text: Highest
sentences.text: SuperLambBanana
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: located
sentences.text: on
sentences.text: top
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: Moel
sentences.text: Famau
sentences.text: in
sentences.text: North
sentences.text: Wales
sentences.text: and
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: sponsored
sentences.text: by
sentences.text: Denbighshire
sentences.text: County
sentences.text: Council
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: At the end of their ten week run, the mini SuperLambBananas were auctioned off for the Lord Mayor's charities, with each having a guide price ranging from 3,000 to 8,000.
sentences.text: At
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: end
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: their
sentences.text: ten
sentences.text: week
sentences.text: run
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: mini
sentences.text: SuperLambBananas
sentences.text: were
sentences.text: auctioned
sentences.text: off
sentences.text: for
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: Lord
sentences.text: Mayor
sentences.text: 's
sentences.text: charities
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: with
sentences.text: each
sentences.text: having
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: guide
sentences.text: price
sentences.text: ranging
sentences.text: from
sentences.text: 3,000
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: 8,000
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: The first of two auctions was held at St George's Hall on the 9 September 2008 with 68 SuperLambBananas up for sale.
sentences.text: The
sentences.text: first
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: two
sentences.text: auctions
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: held
sentences.text: at
sentences.text: St
sentences.text: George
sentences.text: 's
sentences.text: Hall
sentences.text: on
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: 9
sentences.text: September
sentences.text: 2008
sentences.text: with
sentences.text: 68
sentences.text: SuperLambBananas
sentences.text: up
sentences.text: for
sentences.text: sale
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: In total they sold for a combined sum of 550,000 or approximately 7,800 each, well above estimates.
sentences.text: In
sentences.text: total
sentences.text: they
sentences.text: sold
sentences.text: for
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: combined
sentences.text: sum
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: 550,000
sentences.text: or
sentences.text: approximately
sentences.text: 7,800
sentences.text: each
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: well
sentences.text: above
sentences.text: estimates
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: The highest bid on the night was 25,000, paid by the Chairman of National Museums Liverpool for' Mandy' Mandala Superlambanana, whilst Phil Redmond, creative director of the Liverpool Culture Company, purchased four lots for a total of 55,000.
sentences.text: The
sentences.text: highest
sentences.text: bid
sentences.text: on
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: night
sentences.text: was
sentences.text: 25,000
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: paid
sentences.text: by
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: Chairman
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: National
sentences.text: Museums
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: for
sentences.text: '
sentences.text: Mandy
sentences.text: '
sentences.text: Mandala
sentences.text: Superlambanana
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: whilst
sentences.text: Phil
sentences.text: Redmond
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: creative
sentences.text: director
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: Liverpool
sentences.text: Culture
sentences.text: Company
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: purchased
sentences.text: four
sentences.text: lots
sentences.text: for
sentences.text: a
sentences.text: total
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: 55,000
sentences.text: .
sentences.text: A second, internet-based auction took place on 16 September 2008 with 25% of the proceeds going to charity.
sentences.text: A
sentences.text: second
sentences.text: ,
sentences.text: internet-based
sentences.text: auction
sentences.text: took
sentences.text: place
sentences.text: on
sentences.text: 16
sentences.text: September
sentences.text: 2008
sentences.text: with
sentences.text: 25
sentences.text: %
sentences.text: of
sentences.text: the
sentences.text: proceeds
sentences.text: going
sentences.text: to
sentences.text: charity
sentences.text: .
text: The Super Lamb Banana is a bright yellow sculpture located in Liverpool, England. Weighing almost eight tons and standing at 17 feet tall, it is intended to be a cross between a banana and a lamb and was created by Manhattan-based Japanese artist Taro Chiezo. It currently stands in Tithebarn Street, outside the Liverpool John Moores University Avril Robarts Library/Learning Resource Centre, having previously been located on Wapping near the Albert Dock. The sculpture spawned the commissioning of 125 individually designed, miniature replicas as part of Liverpool's year-long European Capital of Culture event. The sculpture was created for the ArtTransPennine Exhibition in 1998, part of an initiative to create a 'corridor of art' through the North of England. Liverpool's contribution, designed by Japanese artist Taro Chiezo, was the SuperLambBanana which was unveiled to the city at the reopening of Liverpool's branch of the famous Tate Gallery. An ironic comment on the dangers of genetic engineering, it was developed with the city specifically in mind as both the banana and lamb were once a common cargo in Liverpool's bustling docks . . The thinking behind Chiezo's SuperLambBanana was the creation of something that 'spoke of the future of 90's Liverpool'. He had previously visited the city and been inspired by the Queensway Tunnel's ventilation shaft, in particular the symbolism of how a vital piece of 1930's engineering had been incorporated into a broader 'sculpture' (or in this case an aesthetically attractive building). Chiezo himself made only a four-inch model, and it was up to local sculptor Andy Small to recreate it on a scale of 1:50. It was created using a wire-mesh frame that supported a concrete and fibreglass shell and was developed at the former Bryant and May Matchworks factory in the south of the City at a total cost of 35,000. The sculpture was at first considered controversial and there was scepticism regarding its purpose and value. However it soon became a popular symbol in the city and a valued piece of public art. Since the sculpture's conception it was intended to move around the city and not remain in one location. It was originally located on the Strand near Liverpool's famous Liver Building and has since been located in several places including Williamson Square, Spike Island in Halton, Cheshire, and on Wapping, close to the Albert Dock. Council leader Warren Bradley also suggested that the sculpture could be moved to Garston in the south of the city in the near future. Although its usual colour is yellow, the statue has occasionally been given a temporary repaint as part of a sponsorship arrangement. Colours have included pink, during a period of sponsorship by the breast cancer awareness charity Breakthrough, the colours of a Friesian cow during a period of 'quasi-vandalism', and purple during the SmokeFree Liverpool campaign. There has been a great deal of speculation about the future of the sculpture after it emerged that it was only on loan to the city council from the artist and it had been suggested that the sculpture could be sold to Liverpool's neighbour Manchester. Talks between the Liverpool Culture Company and representatives of Taro Chiezo occurred in September 2008 although its long term future still remains unknown. As part of Liverpool's Capital of Culture celebrations, 125 two metre high replicas of SuperLambBanana were commissioned and located throughout Liverpool and the surrounding areas. The mini SuperLambBananas were developed in partnership between the Liverpool Culture Company and Wild in Art, with each one being sponsored by a local institution or business and designed by local community members. The miniature SuperLambBananas were on display for ten weeks, from the June to August 2008. The Liverpool Echo partnered with the event, releasing a location map and guide of every mini SuperLambBanana to encourage locals to get involved. All but two of them were located within the Merseyside area. Lovemedoodle was located at Euston railway station in London for a short while until it was moved back to Liverpool Lime Street station, whilst The Highest SuperLambBanana was located on top of Moel Famau in North Wales and was sponsored by Denbighshire County Council. At the end of their ten week run, the mini SuperLambBananas were auctioned off for the Lord Mayor's charities, with each having a guide price ranging from 3,000 to 8,000. The first of two auctions was held at St George's Hall on the 9 September 2008 with 68 SuperLambBananas up for sale. In total they sold for a combined sum of 550,000 or approximately 7,800 each, well above estimates. The highest bid on the night was 25,000, paid by the Chairman of National Museums Liverpool for' Mandy' Mandala Superlambanana, whilst Phil Redmond, creative director of the Liverpool Culture Company, purchased four lots for a total of 55,000. A second, internet-based auction took place on 16 September 2008 with 25% of the proceeds going to charity.