Superlambanana

Superlambanana is a bright yellow sculpture in Liverpool, England. Designed by Japanese artist Taro Chiezo and intended to be a cross between a banana and a lamb, it weighs almost 8 tonnes (8,000 kilograms) and stands 5.2 metres (17 feet) tall. It is located outside the Avril Robarts Library on Tithebarn Street, having previously stood on Wapping Dock. Chiezo created only a four-inch-tall model, with the full-size replica being made by local artists Andy Small, Julian Taylor, Tommy Reason, and Ray Stokes. Developed for the 1998 ArtTransPennine Exhibition, the sculpture reflects the history of Liverpool, as both sheep and bananas were historically common cargo in the city's docks; it is also a commentary on the potential dangers of genetic engineering, which was becoming popular at the time. As part of Liverpool's year-long position as the 2008 European Capital of Culture, 125 replicas of the sculpture were created, each 2 metres (6.6 feet) tall and with a different design. Sponsored by local community organisations and businesses, the smaller Superlambananas were scattered throughout Liverpool and the wider Merseyside region. One sculpture, The Highest SuperLambBanana, was located on top of Moel Famau in Wales to recognise the city's close links with that region.