Comedian (artwork)

Comedian is a 2019 artwork by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. The work, created in an edition of three, consists of a fresh banana taped to a wall with a piece of duct tape. Two editions of the piece sold for $120,000 USD at Art Basel Miami Beach to significant media attention.

For other uses, see Comedian (disambiguation).
Comedian
ArtistMaurizio Cattelan
Year2019
Type
Medium
LocationArt Basel, Miami Beach, U.S.

Background and description
Cattelan in 2012

Cattelan is known for his tongue-in-cheek art, once having created America, a fully functional golden toilet.[1] He previously used duct-tape suspension for A Perfect Day in 1999, fastening the art dealer Massimo De Carlo to a gallery wall.[2][3] For Comedian, he purchased the bananas at a Miami grocery store for an estimated 30 cents.[4] Emmanuel Perrotin, the gallerist exhibiting the work, stated Comedian is "a symbol of global trade, a double entendre, as well as a classic device for humor."[5] Cattelan stated, "The banana is supposed to be a banana."[6] It was Cattelan's first piece of artwork for a fair in over 15 years.[7]

Reception

Overall Comedian created controversy, with some writers, such as Robin Pogrebin, questioning if it was even art.[8][9] The Guardian called Comedian a "questionably genius work ... It calls to mind the old Lucile Bluth Arrested Development gag about rich people not knowing the price of a banana".[4] ArtNet wrote the piece was one of the worst of the week, and that Cattelan "somehow duped a group of collectors into buying bananas duct-taped to walls for $120,000 a pop. Seriously."[10] USA Today deadpanned "This piece of art is bananas – literally".[11] Newsweek called it "humorous minimalist artwork",[12] while ARTnews asked whether the piece was cynical or thrilling.[13] The piece was compared to Andy Warhol's 1967 pop art fruit.[14] CBS News reported "It may be the most talked-about artwork at this year's event."[15] On December 13, the New York Post featured Comedian on their cover.[16]

Purchases

The piece was released in an edition of three; two were purchased for $120,000 USD at Art Basel.[17] The selling price garnered significant media attention. One edition was purchased by Sarah Andelman, a founder of Colette.[18] Another edition was sold to Billy and Beatrice Cox, who stated "We are acutely aware of the blatant absurdity of the fact that Comedian is an otherwise inexpensive and perishable piece of produce and a couple of inches of duct tape. When we saw the public debate sparked about art and our society, we decided to purchase it. We knew we were taking a risk, but ultimately we sense that Cattelan’s banana will become an iconic historical object".[19] The purchased editions come with a certificate of authenticity. The banana can be replaced as needed.[20]

In August 2020 artist Damien Hirst complained to the media he was unable to purchase the piece and had offered to swap it with Cattelan for any of his own pieces; Cattelan replied with a no as the piece was sold out.[21][22]

Intervention

After its sale, while still on exhibit at Art Basel, Georgian performance artist David Datuna ate the piece, calling the intervention Hungry Artist. The banana was replaced later that day.[23][24] No legal action was taken against him, though he was asked to leave the fair.[25] Datuna has stated "What we perceive as materialism is nothing but social conditioning. Any meaningful interaction with an object could turn it to art. I am a hungry artist, and I am hungry for new interactions."[26]

Interpretations

Following the publicity the Comedian received, a number of commentators satirized or interpreted the work. Designer Sebastian ErraZuriz taped a dildo to a wall with duct tape and listed it for sale for $12,000.[27] Cryptocurrency artist CryptoGraffiti created The Commodity, "which instructed collectors to find and claim a banana with a bitcoin key address carved into it".[28] Actress Brooke Shields taped a banana to her forehead with blue tape and posted it to Instagram with the caption "An expensive selfie".[29] Designer Simon Porte Jacquemus "created a merch opportunity when posting a duct-taped yellow version of [his] micro Le Chiquito bag."[29] Popeyes Chicken joined with the San Paul Gallery Urban Art located in Miami to create The Sandwich, a chicken sandwich taped to a white wall with duct tape; it was listed at $120,003.99 and "became a viral sensation in its own right".[28][30] Multiple other brands followed suit, including the New York Mets, Burger King, Hostess, Perrier, Carrefour, Sweetgreen, Absolut, and Bobbi Brown.[31]

Removal

In the morning on Sunday December 8, 2019, Comedian was removed from the fair because crowds queuing to see the piece caused enough commotion curators were afraid other art would be damaged.[32] After the removal, the gallery released the following statement: "Comedian, with its simple composition, ultimately offered a complex reflection of ourselves. We would like to warmly thank all those who participated in this memorable adventure, as well as to our colleagues. We sincerely apologize to all the visitors of the fair who today will not be able to participate in Comedian".[33]

After the removal, Perrotin created a social media account dedicated to the piece.[34] One of the walls featuring the piece was later vandalized with the meme "Epstein didn't kill himself", spelled "Epstien didn't kill himself", in lipstick, which was soon covered by the artfair.[35]

Resources
  1. Sutton, Benjamin (December 4, 2019). "Maurizio Cattelan's duct-taped banana work sold during Art Basel in Miami Beach's VIP preview". Artsy. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  2. Jason Farago (2019-12-08). "A (Grudging) Defense of the $120,000 Banana". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  3. "A Perfect Day - Maurizio Cattelan (1999)". Perrotin. 2015-02-18. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  4. O'Neil, Luke (December 6, 2019). "One banana, what could it cost? $120,000 – if it's art". The Guardian. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  5. Sullivan, Rory (December 6, 2019). "A-peeling offer? Duct-taped banana work selling for $120,000 at Art Basel Miami". CNN. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  6. Cascone, Sarah (December 4, 2019). "Maurizio Cattelan Is Taping Bananas to a Wall at Art Basel Miami Beach and Selling Them for $120,000 Each". ArtNet. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  7. Harris, Garreth (December 4, 2019). "Maurizio Cattelan presents first new work for a fair in 15 years—and it is a banana priced at $120,000". The Art Newspaper. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  8. "maurizio cattelan's comedian, a duct taped-banana sells for $120.000 at art basel in miami". Design Bloom. December 7, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  9. Pogrebin, Robin (December 6, 2019). "That Banana on the Wall? At Art Basel Miami It'll Cost You $120,000". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  10. Goldstein, Caroline (December 6, 2019). "From the Turner Prize Twist to Maurizio Cattelan's Apeel-ing Bananas: The Best and Worst of the Art World This Week". ArtNet. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  11. Moniuszko, Sara M. (December 5, 2019). "A duct-taped banana art work is selling for $120,000 at Art Basel in Miami". USA Today. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  12. Ahmed, Tufayel (December 5, 2019). "Banana Duct-Taped to a Wall Sells for $120,000 at Art Basel Miami". NewsWeek. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  13. Russeth, Andrew (December 5, 2019). "Is Maurizio Cattelan's $120,000 Banana Sculpture a Cynical Sign of the Times or a Thrilling Artwork? Yes!". ARTnews. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  14. Chin, Mallory (December 5, 2019). "Bananas Duct-Taped to Wall Selling for $120K USD at Art Basel". Hype Beast. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  15. Larnaud, Natacha (December 6, 2019). "A banana duct-taped to a wall was sold for $120,000 at Art Basel Miami". CBS News. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  16. Bishara, Hakim (December 9, 2019). ""It Tasted Like $120,000," Says Artist Who Ate Maurizio Cattelan's Infamous Banana Artwork". Hyperallergic. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  17. "Maurizio Cattelan is Taping Bananas to a Wall at Art Basel Miami Beach and Selling Them for $120,000 Each". 2019-12-04.
  18. Pes, Javier (December 8, 2019). "Maurizio Cattelan's $120,000 Banana Was Ejected From Art Basel Miami Beach After Drawing Unsafe Crowds (and Getting Eaten)". ArtNet. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  19. Siegler, Mara; Coleman, Oli (December 9, 2019). "Billy and Beatrice Cox, new owners of $120K Art Basel banana, speak out". Page Six. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  20. Kuesel, Christy (December 10, 2019). "The buyers of two editions of Maurizio Cattelan's banana artwork were revealed". Artsy.net. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  21. Dazed (2020-08-21). "Damien Hirst tries to buy Maurizio Cattelan's banana, told no, makes one". Dazed. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  22. "Damien Hirst offers to swap any work for viral duct-tape banana—but Maurizio Cattelan says no". www.theartnewspaper.com. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  23. Cohen, Howard; Morrissey, Siobhan (December 7, 2019). "Someone ate the $120,000 banana at Art Basel. Some quick thinking saved the day". Miami Herald. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  24. Darby, Luke (December 8, 2019). "Some Guy Ate That $120,000 Art Basel Banana". GQ. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  25. AFP (December 8, 2019). "Man eats $120,000 piece of art — a banana taped to wall". Times of Israel. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  26. https://www.observer.com/2020/02/david-datuna-hungry-artist-exhibition-banana/amp/
  27. Gibson, Eleanor (December 9, 2019). "Maurizio Cattelan's $120,000 banana removed from display". de zeen. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  28. Cascone, Sarah (December 9, 2019). "How the Unhinged Reaction to Maurizio Cattelan's Banana Revealed the Thin Line Between the Art World and Total Anarchy". ArtNet. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  29. Ilchi, Layla (December 10, 2019). "The $120,000 Art Banana Gets the Meme Treatment". WWD. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  30. Zhang, Jenny G. (December 10, 2019). "Popeyes's Riff on the Art Basel Banana Is a $120,003.99 Duct-Taped Chicken Sandwich". Eater. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  31. Liffreing, Ilyse (December 10, 2019). "Brands Are Trying to One-Up the Art Basel Banana". Ad Age. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  32. Stiernberg, Bonnie (December 8, 2019). "The $120,000 Art Basel Banana Has Been Taken Down". Inside Hook. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  33. Pogrebin, Robin (December 8, 2019). "Banana Splits: Spoiled by Its Own Success, the $120,000 Fruit Is Gone". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  34. Taylor, Elise (December 10, 2019). "The $120,000 Art Basel Banana, Explained". Vogue. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  35. Dickson, EJ (December 9, 2019). "Art Basel Miami: 'Epstein Didn't Kill Himself' and the $120,000 Banana". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
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