To some, a banana duct-taped to a wall represents a pivotal point in contemporary art history. To others, it’s merely a tantalizing treat.
This was vividly illustrated when an art student from Seoul National University, driven by hunger, detached and consumed a piece of art – a banana duct-taped to a wall. The artwork, titled “Comedian,” was created by renowned Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and was displayed at the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea.
According to a museum representative, the student’s justification for his action was simply that he was hungry.
“Comedian” earned its place in the annals of art history when it was sold for $120,000 at Art Basel Miami Beach in December 2019, becoming a viral sensation. Two more editions of the artwork were also sold at the fair.
Following his unconventional snack, the student reattached the banana peel to the wall, later replaced by the museum with a fresh banana.
“The incident happened suddenly and took us by surprise. We have informed the artist, Maurizio Cattelan, but he hasn’t responded,” the museum spokesperson further explained.
“Comedian” is a part of Cattelan’s solo exhibition, WE, which will be showcased at the museum until July 16. The displayed banana is regularly replaced every two to three days and is unavailable for purchase.
Cattelan is renowned for his satirical artworks that question popular culture and often stir up debates around the concept of art.
The artwork has been picked and consumed before. In 2019, after the first edition of “Comedian” was sold, performance artist David Datuna removed the banana from the display at the Perrotin Gallery at Art Basel in Miami and ate it, to the astonishment of the viewers.
Datuna later justified his act, claiming it was an artistic performance and not vandalism, stating that he found the installation “very delicious.”
Before the artwork made headlines, Perrotin had told CNN that Cattelan’s bananas were “a symbol of global trade, a double entendre, as well as a classic device for humour,” adding that the artist transforms ordinary objects into “vehicles of both delight and critique.”
The artwork has also been tangled in copyright disputes. Joe Morford, an artist from Glendale, California, claimed in 2022 that Cattelan copied his 2000 artwork titled “Banana & Orange,” which featured the mentioned fruits duct-taped to a wall with a green background. Cattelan’s lawyers have contested these allegations, stating that Morford has no valid copyright over the elements of the artwork.
Another viral creation of Cattelan’s is a solid 18-carat-gold toilet titled “America,” valued at roughly $6 million. It was first installed at New York’s Guggenheim in 2016 and was accessible to visitors. However, in 2019, it was stolen from Winston Churchill’s birthplace at Blenheim Palace in England during an exhibition and has since remained missing.
Maurizio Cattelan’s “Comedian” continues to stir reactions and debates in the fascinating and often bewildering world of modern art. Whether viewed as a profound symbol of global trade and humour or as an appetizing snack, the artwork undeniably embodies the essence of contemporary art — the power to provoke and inspire conversation. While the legalities of copyright and the audacity of art connoisseurs and the hungry alike continue to provide fodder for discussion, the overall significance of Cattelan’s work persists in its constant ability to challenge our perception of what constitutes art.
