“Comedian” (2019) is a famous, talked-about artwork that Sotheby’s hopes will still attract interest.
Maurizio Cattelan’s duct-taped banana made waves at Art Basel Miami Beach back in 2019, and boy, did it split opinions! This cheeky piece of art, aptly named Comedian, quickly became a viral sensation, showcasing just how absurd the contemporary art market can be. While some folks raised eyebrows, Cattelan himself called it a “sincere commentary on what we value.” If that doesn’t sound like the classic ‘art is subjective’ debate, I don’t know what does!
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Now, the real drama unfolds as one of the three editions of Comedian is set to hit the auction block at Sotheby’s New York next month. This piece consists of a banana duct-taped to the wall, and yes, it comes with a certificate of authenticity and instructions for display. What’s the price tag? Well, it started at a cool $120,000 back in 2019, but Sotheby’s expects it to fetch between $1 million and $1.5 million. Just imagine shelling out that much for a banana and some tape!
David Galperin, Sotheby’s head of contemporary art in the Americas, cheekily noted, “If Comedian questions the value of art, then this auction will let the public decide its worth.” Talk about putting your money where your mouth is!
When Comedian first appeared, the world went bananas! People queued up to gawk at this culinary artwork, and the New York Post even slapped a headline on it screaming, “BANANAS! Art world gone mad.” The hype reached a peak when a performance artist had the audacity to take a bite of the banana—yes, it’s been nibbled on at least twice! Perrotin had to pull the piece due to “uncontrollable crowd movements.” Who knew a banana could cause such chaos?
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Three editions of Comedian found homes at the fair. One went to Sarah Andelman, founder of the now-closed Parisian shop Colette, while another was snagged by Miami collectors William and Beatrice Cox, who promised to donate theirs to a museum. And of course, one went to an anonymous buyer. The piece was so hot that even Damien Hirst lamented missing out on one!
The auction is happening on November 20, and before that, you can check out the banana at Sotheby’s New York starting October 28. And guess what? They even sourced the banana from a local fruit stand. Talk about keeping it fresh! After New York, Comedian will take its show on the road to London, Paris, Milan, Hong Kong, Dubai, Taipei, Tokyo, and Los Angeles. Who knew a banana could have such a glamorous travel itinerary?
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As the auction season kicks off, it’s one of the flashiest pieces up for grabs, especially with René Magritte’s L’empire des lumières expected to sell for over $95 million at Christie’s. But honestly, can you really put a price on a banana?
