Back in 2022, Liverpool BID Company made a statement with the unveiling of a stunning mural by the iconic street artist Smug. Inspired by Carl Jung’s famous description of Liverpool’s ‘Pool of Life,’ this large-scale artwork now brightens up the Cavern Quarter, one of the city’s oldest and most creative neighborhoods.

Co-commissioned by Liverpool BID Company, along with Culture Liverpool and the Beatles Legacy Group, the mural beautifully explored the rich history of the Cavern Quarter. It captured the spirit of the area, from the global music explosion of the 1960s to its role as a cultural epicenter during the groundbreaking counterculture movements of the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Sam Bates, better known as Smug, cleverly wove the neighborhood’s layered history into his work. He spotlighted iconic venues like Erics and The Cavern, which draw in tourists from all corners of the globe. But he also dug deeper, revealing the stories behind the architecture, commerce, and trade that shaped Jung’s ‘Pool of Life.’

In his 1927 essay, Jung described a place “into which many streets converged,” a fitting nod to the vibrant junction of Mathew Street and Rainford Square in the Cavern Quarter. The support from Liverpool BID Company was crucial in bringing this artistic vision to life, enhancing the cultural landscape of the area.

Adding to the mural’s significance, poet and artist Peter O’Halligan popularized Jung’s phrase in the 1970s, further cementing the Cavern Quarter’s reputation as a creative hub. In 2012, a plaque commemorating Jung’s ‘Pool of Life’ was unveiled nearby, reinforcing its importance in Liverpool’s story.

Historically, the Cavern Quarter has been one of Liverpool’s oldest commercial districts, evolving from a site that once housed an iron foundry, brewery, and mills into a bustling marketplace filled with goods from the nearby docks.

Through initiatives like this mural, Liverpool BID Company continue to champion the heritage and vibrancy of the Cavern Quarter, ensuring that its rich history is celebrated by locals and visitors alike.

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