Art
Banana on the Wall
Through this unusual marriage between a banana and duct tape, Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan examines how art has the power to be exploitative and often comes through as a ludicrous, wasteful enterprise.
Art isn’t a prisoner to rules and conventions and often bears an eccentric, enigmatic quality. Such claims achieve appropriate justification in light of Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan’s contentious yet popular work, ‘The Comedian.’ Featuring a banana affixed to a wall with duct tape, this unusual specimen of conceptual art has fuelled a vibrant and, at times, divisive debate among art critics, collectors, and aficionados on the essence of creativity.
Cattelan’s creation emerged on the horizon in 2019 in a limited edition of three. Two pieces were sold for a whopping $120,000 each at the Art Basel staged in Miami Beach, and the remaining piece was donated to the Guggenheim Museum. In the five years since ‘The Comedian’ made its appearance, art lovers have found themselves locked in lengthy debates about whether Cattelan’s artwork is a prank or a clever commentary on the dubious standards upheld by the Western canon.
In a puzzling development, one piece from this limited edition was sold in November 2024 to Justin Sun, a entrepreneur dealing in cryptocurrency, for $6.2 million. He ate the banana soon after making the purchase. If Sun’s observations are anything to go by, the true value of Cattelan’s work isn’t derived from its physical existence. Instead, the real measure of its worth is vested in “the concept itself.”
Over the years, investors have steadily recognized the importance of art as a viable asset that yields rich dividends. Indoctrination would have us believe that the art market remains reliable as it isn’t susceptible to constant fluctuations. In a similar vein, investing in art enables buyers to diversify their portfolios and, thereby, minimize any financial risks.
Be that as it may, the commercial appeal of a creative piece isn’t the most suitable gauge of artistic merit. Serious artists approach their craft with a heady mix of profundity and skill. The process of creating an artwork not only entails physical exertion but also involves spiritual and emotional labor. As a result, an accomplished work of art bears the stamp of its creator’s identity and vision.
At first glance, ‘The Comedian’ doesn’t seem to be the product of an arduous creative endeavor. Even the most pedestrian of observers are likely to view Cattelan’s artwork as overly simplistic. What’s more, non-artists can recreate the duct-taped banana with minimal effort. However, conceptual art isn’t always about the intricacies involved in its execution. On the contrary, it is steered by a distinct complexity of thought. A rudimentary concept can, therefore, be salvaged through sound intellectual and philosophical justifications. A discerning observer is advised against approaching conceptual artwork through a narrow lens and is urged to probe deeper.
The commercial appeal of a creative piece isn’t the most suitable gauge of artistic merit.
The popularity of ‘The Comedian’ can largely be attributed to the reputation enjoyed by its creator. In an article titled ‘Outrage As Art: How Do We Talk About “The Comedian”?’, art journalist Javed Jokhai comments on how the duct-taped banana is “one example in a long line of Cattelan’s art pranks.” As per Jokhai, the artist’s previous “joke works” are relatively more offensive than ‘The Comedian.’
A quick Google search on Cattelan’s earlier work confirms this observation and provides a doorway to his bold, defiant oeuvre. Statues of large middle fingers and taxidermied golden retrievers vouch for Cattelan’s image as an ‘attention-seeking artist.’ Moreover, his body of work includes a golden toilet titled ‘America,’ which was available for use at the Guggenheim Museum.
Compared to his previous work, ‘The Comedian’ is undoubtedly a tamer performance. However, the artwork’s relatively inoffensive quality adds a layer of complexity to it. The duct-taped banana is fuelled by the spirit of quiet rebellion against mainstream values. Cattelan’s artwork is a haunting reminder of how our modern-day sensibilities have been held captive to straitjacketed notions about art and aesthetics. In an age when people have become willing prisoners of capitalism, such provocative artistic depictions come through as a symbol of resistance. Sun’s decision to eat the banana soon after he bought the artwork may come through as a significant act of revolt against high culture and its discontents.
Not everyone is drawn towards ‘The Comedian’ on account of its so-called philosophical underpinnings. Many people are intrigued by the interest that the artwork has drummed up over social media in the last few years. Others might be enthralled by how ‘The Comedian’ comes with a 14-page instruction manual detailing how the banana should be affixed on the wall. In either case, the fate of Cattelan’s duct-taped banana raises pertinent points about the beguiling nature of the Western canon. It also reveals how the appeal of art often defies sense and rationality.
The writer is a journalist and author. He analyses international issues and can be reached at tahakehar2@gmail.com
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