Posted on 12/07/2019 5:32:48 AM PST by Moonman62
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Arguably one of the most talked-about works of art at this year’s Art Basel was a banana duct-taped to a wall that sold for $120,000.
It’s Maurizio Cattelan’s latest work of art. It’s called ‘The Comedian’ and it is entertaining art lovers from around the globe.
Some of those same art lovers’ conversations swirled around his 2017 golden toilet. The $6-million throne was stolen from England’s Blenheim Palace over the summer.
Art lover Weezie Chandler said, “You can do anything and once you’re established you can get away with it.”
Many believe this more ‘a-peeling’ piece represents the art world and its gaping wealth inequalities.
Others advise not to think that deep.
One art lover said, “It’s mocking the art world. That’s what Maurizio Cattelan does.”
The first two pieces according to ARTnews.com were sold for $120,000, a third is being sold for $150,000.
More in depth articles:
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/maurizio-cattelan-banana-basel-1202670910/
https://news.artnet.com/market/maurizio-cattelan-banana-art-basel-miami-beach-1722516
I had to check the article. It’s first cuppa joe early, and I couldn’t figure out what a “banana duct” was.
I’m surprised it wasn’t reported as a “hate crime”
I have an apple taped to a wall with gorilla tape. I’ll let it go for $50,000.
“”””””Many believe this more ‘a-peeling’ piece represents the art world and its gaping wealth inequalities. “””””””””””
They are all morons, Jim.
They are gonna have to cut your wall down. Is that extra?
What did PT Barnum say?
My SIL has pieces on display at that show. It’s a BIG deal.
He is a really fine artist.
But evidently, he lacks the vision to tape shit to a wall.
The Cleveland Art Museum has had a stupid painting about 4 feet across, with 3 horizontal differently colored bars of paint that any idiot could paint, on display for over 30 years. I couldn’t believe that that piece of garbage was still held up as a work of art after 30 years, but it’s still there.
So, I’m not surprised at this. To me, fine art is special in the fact that it’s very, very hard to reproduce. Sloppy colored bars on a horizontal painting are just plain garbage like this banana.
I’ve had one of those for years. Just didn’t realize its value.
Wonder what my set of golf clubs is worth?
PT Barnum was spot on...
Throw some stuff up against the wall and see what sticks? I think I had that principle presented in some class, but I didn’t think it was an art class.
Or, better yet, a PEACH attached to a canvas by a wide piece of duct tape, upon which is written the number 45.
Betcha EVERY DEMONRAT would bid on it!!
Waste of good duct tape...
Heap them all in a twisted tangle (bend the clubs into weird shapes) over the bag in the middle of a gallery’s showroom floor. Have a discreet card with the title (”Hate the Game”) nearby.
All I ask is 10% of the gross selling price.
Old Art Buchwald column:
One day … I went to the supermarket to buy some groceries for my wife. On the way home I stopped at an art gallery where they were holding a pop-art exhibit. Unfortunately, the carton of groceries got heavy, and I left them on the floor. Then, being so moved by what I saw, I Left the gallery and went home. “Where are groceries?” my wife demanded. “Oh, my gosh,” I cried. “I left them at the art gallery.” “Well you’d better get them if you want any supper tonight.”
I rushed back to the gallery, but I was too late. The groceries had been awarded first prize in the show. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you,” the gallery owner said. “Why didn’t you sign your work of art?” “It’s not a work of art. It’s my dinner for tonight.” The gallery roared with appreciative laughter.” ”He’s not only a great sculptor, but he has humour as well,” a judge said. “ You can see that in his work,” another judge added. “ Notice how the bottle of Heinz catsup is leaning against the can of Campbell’s pork and beans.” “I’ll never know how he was inspired to put the Ritz crackers on top of the can of Crisco,” a lady said to her escort. “It’s pure genius,” the escort replied. “ Notice the way the Del Monte can of peaches is lying on its side. Even Andy Warhol wouldn’t have gone that far.” “ I think the thing that really won the prize for him was the manner in which he crushed the Sara Lee cheesecake on the bottom of the box.” “It makes Picasso look sick.”
“Look,” I said. “I’m very grateful for all these honors, but my wife is waiting for this stuff, and I have to get it home.” “Get it home?” the gallery owner said amazement. “I’ve just sold it to that couple over there for 1,500 dollars.” “The groceries cost me only 18 dollars”, I replied. “It isn’t the groceries. It’s what you did with them. You have managed to put more meaning into a box of Rinso than Rodin put into ‘The Thinker’. Nobody will ever be able to look at a can of Franco-American spaghetti without thinking of you. You have said with this bag of groceries, in one evening, what Rembrandt tried to say in 1,000 paintings.”
I blushed modestly and accepted his check. That night I took my wife out to dinner, and the next day I went back to the supermarket and bought another bag of groceries, much more expensive than the previous ones, which I immediately took to the gallery. But the reviews were lousy. “Success has gone to his head,” said Washington’s leading art critics. “Where once he was able to produce simple jars of cat food and peanut butter in a wild, reckless, I-don’t-give-a-damm manner, he is now serving up elegant cans of mushrooms and mock-turtle soup. The famous touch is gone and all that is left is a hodgepodge of tasteless groceries.”
Heap them all in a twisted tangle (bend the clubs into weird shapes) over the bag in the middle of a gallery’s showroom floor.
...
That reminds me of JFK’s golf clubs that were auctioned on Seinfeld.
Anyone that can get someone to fork up $120 k for a banana duct taped to a piece of canvas is ok in my book.
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