Rome: Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, renowned for his provocative creations, described his artwork Comedian—a banana duct-taped to a wall that sold for $6.2 million—as an invitation to reconsider the value of art. Speaking to La Repubblica on Friday, Cattelan explained that the piece challenges the art world and its market dynamics.
“It’s a provocation that invites us to reflect on the value of art and the dynamics of (this) market, pushing us to question what this work says about us as viewers,” he stated.
Record-Breaking Sale
Comedian gained international attention in 2019 during its debut at Art Basel Miami. On Wednesday, the artwork was sold at Sotheby’s in New York to Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun. Originally created with a banana costing just 25 cents, the piece started at $800,000 and eventually fetched $5.2 million, plus buyer fees.
Cattelan reflected on the market’s role in the artwork’s monumental valuation. “It’s the market that has decided to take a banana stuck on the wall so seriously. If the system is so frail to slip on a banana skin, maybe it was already slippery,” he remarked.
A Career Built on Provocation
The 64-year-old artist is no stranger to controversy, known for hyper-realistic installations that blend irony with social critique. His previous works include a fake horse suspended from a ceiling, a sculpture of Pope John Paul II struck by a meteorite, and a giant marble hand flipping the middle finger outside Milan’s Stock Exchange.
Cattelan shared that he was fast asleep during the auction of Comedian, dreaming of his favorite soccer team Atalanta beating AC Milan in an upcoming Serie A game.
Art Beyond the Banana
Describing his infamous banana piece, Cattelan said, “‘Comedian’ is a laugh against a tired system, an invitation to rediscover the power of irony and simplicity.”
The sale of Comedian has reignited debates on what constitutes art, as well as the influence of the market in shaping perceptions of artistic value.
