The mural’s time on the street could be limited
The completed mural on Mathew St
A new tribute to John Lennon has been put up in Mathew Street but Liverpool Council will have the final say on if it can stay for good. Artist Danny O’Connor of DOC ART has created a colourful mural on the front entrance of Sgt Peppers apartments in the popular city centre street.
The work, which depicts the legendary Beatle’s face awash with colour, has been restricted to the location opposite Sgt Peppers bar. While John’s legacy is intrinsically linked to Mathew Street, the city council must approve it if the new design is to stay.
As the design materially alters the appearance of the building, planning permission is required for the bright new image to remain. An application has been lodged on behalf of JSM freehold to keep the artwork on the entrance for the foreseeable future.
A design and access statement set out how the mural came to be. It said: “The mural is located on the ground floor façade of the existing building only.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney in November 1963(Image: Fox Photos/Getty Images)
“The new mural has been designed to incorporate John Lennon to complement the existing street scene and street identity, so as to not have a negative impact on the well known street. The exterior of the building will not be altered other than the application of the proposed artwork.”
It is the latest work to remember the music legend, with a sculpture of the ex-Beatle casually leaning against the wall opposite the Cavern Club a fixture for almost 30 years. Created by artist David Webster, it was unveiled in 1997 to mark the 40th birthday of the club.
Webster, who frequented the famous Cavern as a teenager, modelled the original statue on a photo of John Lennon that appears on the cover of his 1975 album, Rock ‘N’ Roll.
The John Lennon statue on Mathew Street(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
According to planning documents, the new mural will continue to celebrate the legacy of John and Mathew Street’s impact on the city’s artistic heritage.
It said: “The installation of the mural will reinforce the history of the area with the emphasis being on John Lennon and will resonate with the legacy of alternative and celebratory character of the area, in particular the artistic foundations that began in this location.”
Sgt Peppers Apartments is operated by Happy Days Apartments which runs a number of serviced accommodation locations and hotels across the city.
A date has not been set for the plans to be considered by officials for a final decision.