The Penelope sculpture is a colourful and whimsical installation by Cuban-born sculptor Jorge Pardo that shows several orbs connected to almost tendril-like rods waving high above the ground. A kaleidoscope of hues, the sculpture is said to represent a loom and bobbin, with the different orbs weaving in and out of one another.
Pardo designed the sculpture as a nod to the city's renowned manufacturing heritage, and he entered the piece as part of Liverpool’s 2006 Biennial of Contemporary Art. You can find the unique sculpture in the Ropewalks district of Liverpool.
Penelope Sculpture - one of the highlights of 10 Things to Do Off the Beaten Track in Liverpool (Read all about Liverpool here)
photo by Steve Nimmons (CC BY 2.0) modified
Highlights of the Penelope sculpture
The sculpture is named for and designed to depict a character from Homer’s 'Odyssey', Penelope, who waits for her husband Odysseus to return from war and, in the meantime, puts off her suitors by claiming she had to weave a robe, but each night, she unravelled the work of the day before.
Art fans will find no shortage of other work to explore in the surrounding area of Ropewalks – a district known for its variety of artistic mediums. If you’re interested in street art, take a stroll down Bold Street, where you’ll also find a variety of coffee shops, restaurants and vintage stores.
Good to know about the Penelope sculpture
Since your time at the Penelope sculpture won’t take very long, consider taking in some of the live performances in the Ropewalks district. Only a 3-minute walk away from the statue, you can check out The Bluecoat, which is the oldest centre for contemporary arts in the UK. Regularly, the centre puts on events and exhibitions across mediums such as literature, music, dance, live art and more.
If you’d like to peruse some galleries, Ropewalks has no shortage of those either. Live music fans should head over to venues such as The Jacaranda club, the Arts Club or the Sound Basement.
photo by Andy Wright (CC BY 2.0) modified
Penelope Sculpture
Location: Wolstenholme Square, Liverpool L1, UK
Open: 24/7
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Where to stay in Liverpool
Titanic Hotel Liverpool
The Municipal Hotel Liverpool - MGallery
Hotel Indigo Liverpool City Centre, an IHG Hotel
The Resident Liverpool
Maldron Hotel Liverpool City
Britannia Adelphi Hotel
Hard Days Night Hotel
30 James Street
The Shankly Hotel
