Why is the artwork 'just a banana taped to a wall' that sold for over 900 million yen artistically valuable?



A work that literally 'just stuck a banana to the wall with duct tape' was sold for 6.24 million dollars (about 940 million yen). Art experts explain the artistic aspects of this work as to what is so great about it.

A banana duct-taped to a wall has sold for £4.9 million – part of the evolving relationship between art and finance

https://theconversation.com/a-banana-duct-taped-to-a-wall-has-sold-for-4-9-million-part-of-the-evolving-relationship-between-art-and-finance-244573



Maurizio Cattelan's viral banana artwork has sold again — this time for $6.24 million | CNN

https://edition.cnn.com/style/duct-taped-banana-maurizio-cattelan-auction-hnk-intl/index.html

The piece that sold was ' Comedian ' by the artist Maurizio Cattelan. This is actually the second time that 'Comedian' has been put up for auction. Last time, three pieces were exhibited in 2019 , two of which sold for $120,000 (approximately 18 million yen) and the other for an even higher price (an undisclosed amount). The work itself is simply a paste-up of bananas purchased at a grocery store in Miami, but experts say it is 'purely a conceptual work' and would work even if the bananas were replaced with something else.

When the piece was exhibited in 2019, an art student from Seoul National University peeled off a banana, ate it, and then stuck the peel on after the meal. The student said his motive was 'because I was hungry,' and later defended the act of eating the work as art in itself. The museum where the piece was exhibited dealt with the problem by replacing the banana, and when Cattelan was informed of the situation, he 'did not show any reaction.'



Benedikt Carpenter van Bartholdt, lecturer in the School of Art and Design at Nottingham Trent University, says the value of this piece lies not in the combination of bananas and duct tape, but rather in the documentation that comes with it.

Comedian's winning bidder was given a document certifying the piece's authenticity, as well as instructions for installing the piece, including detailed instructions for replacing the 'perishable components that make up the physical expression of the piece' -- the banana and the duct tape. Bartholdt interprets this as meaning that 'any banana can be transformed into a work of art if you follow the instructions.'

'This approach challenges conventional notions of art ownership and value,' said Barthold. 'It focuses not on their physical form but on the concepts and ideas they embody. Their value lies in their proof of authenticity, their expressiveness to the artist and the debate they generate.'


by Milliped

Barthold also points out the connection between Comedic and virtual currency, which he sees as a challenge to the existing monetary system and destroying traditional concepts such as ownership and authenticity. There is also a connection to NFTs, which trade value as digital content rather than ownership of the work itself.

The person who purchased Comedian this time was cryptocurrency advisor Justin Sun, who wrote the following about his intentions for the purchase:

'This is Justin Sun. We have successfully purchased Maurizio Cattelan's masterpiece 'Comedian' for approximately $6.2 million. This is not just a work of art, it represents a cultural phenomenon that connects the worlds of art, memes, and crypto communities. I believe this piece will provoke more thoughts and discussions in the future and become a part of history. I am proud to be the owner of the banana and look forward to further inspiring and impacting art lovers around the world. What's more, in the coming days, as part of this unique art experience, I will be eating a banana myself, celebrating the banana's place in both art history and popular culture. Stay tuned!'




'Comedian reflects the complex cultural and financial landscape of our time, while challenging our perceptions of value ownership and the nature of art itself,' said Barthold. 'It has not only become a notable artifact in the art world, but also a provocative work at the intersection of art and capitalism in modern society.'

Related Posts:

in Art, Posted by log1p_kr