Penelope

'Penelope' is Liverpool’s most colourful sculpture, comprising a ten metre tall creation of twisting steel stalks, ending in brightly coloured, illuminated Plexiglas spheres.

This unique public sculpture by Jorge Pardo, located in Wolstenholme Square, Liverpool, was initiated by Tate Liverpool as part of the Liverpool Biennial 2002 and commissioned by the Liverpool Rope Walks Partnership.

The stalks reflect the historical significance of the Rope Walks area, where in past centuries, the long ropes of ships were laid out in the streets to be plaited.

"Penelope" refers to the Homer’s Odyssey, in which Ulysses’ wife, Penelope, faithfully awaited her husband’s return from the Trojan war. She put off numerous suitors by saying she had to finish weaving a robe, unravelling her day’s work each night.

The story, about conjugal faithfulness, pursuit and thwarted desire is appropriate to the sculpture’s location in a square swarming with crowds of revellers at night.