Musing: Artistic Monkey Business

On Wednesday, Sotheby’s auctioned Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian for a whopping $6.2 million. Given that it first went for $120,000 in 2019, that’s quite a hefty profit. Not bad for some artistic monkey business, considering it’s just a banana duct-taped to a wall. And, for the record, the wall isn’t even part of the deal.

Before diving in, let me remind you that my musings are 100% true, except for the parts I make up. In today’s tale, however, the most outlandish parts are indeed the true ones. I stumbled upon the entire saga in the Wall Street Journal, quite the prestigious source.

In full disclosure, I don’t have an actual photo of the masterpiece. I’ve never been lucky enough to witness it firsthand. Or, even, to know of its existence. I did, however, stumble upon this rather impressive replica in a stock photo.

Isn’t that something? I’d even call it appealing. Then again, my sense of humor is probably worse than my art appreciation, so you may groan now.

Comedian debuted at the esteemed Art Basel in Miami Beach. Three original pieces were up for grabs, along with two artist’s proofs—early versions, since perfecting the art of duct-taping a banana to a wall evidently requires some trial and error. All five pieces fetched prices ranging from $120,000 to $150,000.

This raises many questions for me, but the top of mind is: just how ripe is that banana today? After all, it’s been five years since the first appearance. I can’t even keep bananas fresh at home for more than a few days.

I was utterly floored—completely taken aback—to learn the piece auctioned on Wednesday didn’t feature the original banana. Nor did it include the original duct tape. I guess you could say we’re stuck with a second banana. Well, you could say it if your jokes were as bad as mine.

The 14-page instruction manual that comes with the artwork lays out precise guidelines on how to swap out the banana. And the duct tape. Anyone showcasing it needs to have spares at the ready.

I’m now wondering if the private collectors who initially bought the pieces showed the same level of dedication. One of the original buyers, Billy Cox, still has his, with no intention of selling it, despite this week’s staggering auction price. I bet it’s proudly showcased in his home. Someone there, possibly Mr. Cox himself, must be in charge of swapping out the bananas and duct tape.

Mr. Cox, being a dedicated collector, would never dream of consuming the art. However, that’s not always been the case. At the initial exhibition in Miami Beach, performance artist David Datuna tore the banana from the wall and ate it, declaring, “I am a hungry artist, and I am hungry for new interactions.” Security promptly escorted him out of the show for his audacious act.

However, the repercussions didn’t discourage everyone. During an exhibition at the Leeum Museum of Art in South Korea, student Noh Hyun-soo decided to eat the artwork. Afterward, he taped the banana peel to the wall. When questioned about his actions, he simply stated that he had missed breakfast.

When I read that detail, I was astounded. Not because the banana had been consumed—lots of folks have been tempted to take a bite out of the art scene. No, what really surprised me was that Comedian had traveled the globe as an art exhibit.

I really shouldn’t have been. Out of the three initial pieces sold in 2019, one now resides at the Guggenheim. Yes, that Guggenheim.

An original purchaser donated it to the renowned museum. I can only imagine the conversation with the IRS auditor reviewing that tax return. “You claimed how much in charitable contributions for a banana and duct tape?”

Hold off on planning your visit to the Guggenheim to glimpse it. Unfortunately, it’s tucked away in storage. Makes you curious, doesn’t it? Who’s the unlucky curator tasked with swapping out the banana and duct tape each week? Picture this: “Hey, Mom, all that money on my art degree is paying off. Today, I went to the store and picked up a new bunch of bananas and a roll of duct tape.”

Hats off to the auction’s big spender, Justin Sun, the mastermind behind the cryptocurrency platform Tron, who snagged the winning bid of $6.2 million. He’s now the proud owner of Comedian.

This has certainly shaken up the art community. The buzz isn’t about him being the new owner or the staggering amount he spent. No, what’s really ruffling feathers is his plan to use cryptocurrency for the payment. It seems no one minds the hefty price tag for a piece involving fruit and tape; it’s the method of payment that’s causing all the fuss. Priorities, right?

So, what’s Sun’s grand plan for his pricey acquisition? According to the Wall Street Journal, Sun announced, “In the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honoring its place in both art history and popular culture.”

Sounds grandiose. My recommendation, however, is that he just wait a few hours for the art to make its way through him. Then he can have his personal moment of artistic expression. After all, he shelled out $6.2 million, and that’s the ultimate outcome.

Read the Wall Street Journal article “Someone Just Paid $6.2 Million for a Banana Duct-Taped to a Wall.“