Banana duct-taped to wall

Artist Maurizio Cattelan’s latest piece, consisting of a banana duct-taped to a wall, sold recently for $120,000.

Gallery owner Emmanuel Perrotin defended the work by saying, “It looks like a joke, but step back and look at it again, and it becomes so much more.”

The new owner will receive a certificate of authenticity. However, they’ll also be expected to periodically replace the banana (and presumably the duct tape also). Which begs the question: what did they actually buy? The idea of a banana duct-taped to a wall, apparently.

I'm curious to know how long the owner will actually bother to replace the banana. Twenty years from now, will they still be replacing it every few days?

More info: artsy.net

     Posted By: Alex - Sat Dec 07, 2019
     Category: Art | Overpriced Merchandise | Bananas





Comments
I caught this on Drudge this morning. They had a link to Miami Channel 4 news.

It seems that you hit the whole purpose by asking if the new owner bought the art piece or the idea. I believe that the piece sold as an idea since it really has no permanence as a physical object. Good call!
Posted by KDP on 12/07/19 at 10:20 AM
The plot thickened when a performance artist ate it
Posted by crc on 12/07/19 at 04:07 PM
I'll provide a whole bunch of bananas and a whole roll of duct tape at a 50% discount (negotiable).
Posted by ges on 12/07/19 at 09:07 PM
I just noticed that the artist is the one who created the solid gold toilet that was stolen recently.
Posted by ges on 12/07/19 at 09:31 PM
When it takes microscopes, spectrometers, x-rays, and infrared reflectography to decide whether a painting is worth millions or nothing, I give up on trying to understand how value is assigned in the world of art. It's as if they don't want it to make sense so normal people will question their own judgement. If you like something, and it's only worth $100 while some ugly trash is worth thousands, you're supposed to feel like you're a cretin who doesn't understand beauty.
Posted by Phideaux on 12/08/19 at 01:55 AM
I don’t know anything about art, but I know what I like. And this ain’t it.
Posted by Judy on 12/08/19 at 12:58 PM
I believe you've got it, Phideaux. It's elitism: to show they are better than everyone else.

Although for this one, The Miami location make me wonder about drug money laundering, too.
Posted by Virtual in Carnate on 12/08/19 at 01:47 PM
Judy, you don't like bananas? These guys do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae7h2p1pY5Q
Posted by ges on 12/08/19 at 02:32 PM
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