As if this story was not bizarre enough:

Several days ago, artist Maurizio Cattelan (who also constructed the six million dollar golden toilet stolen from Winston Churchill’s family home) duct-taped a banana to a gallery wall at Art Basel Miami, and the “work of art” was sold for $120,000.

And now, this:

Via Miami Herald.

….By now you have probably heard of the now world-famous banana duct-taped to Emmanuel Perrotin’s outer gallery wall at Art Basel Miami Beach. The piece that sold to an art collector for $120,000.

The $120,000 banana — a real, rather ripe and edible one — is the work of Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and titled “Comedian.” The work comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, and owners are told that they can replace the banana, as needed.

Instructions on how to replace the banana are not included.

But New York-based performance artist David Datuna ate the banana at around 1:45 p.m. in front of a convention center full of art lovers, according to gallery representatives.

While the banana was indeed consumed, apparently that doesn’t diminish the integrity of the six-figure art work, said Lucien Terras, director of museum relations for Galerie Perrotin.

“He did not destroy the art work. The banana is the idea,” Terras said.

Confused?

We were, too, but that’s where the Certificate of Authenticity comes in. Collectors are buying the certificate. The banana is not made to last….

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4 Comments | Leave a comment
  1. Alain41 says:

    So when the banana is replaced, the Second Banana will be a Banana Re-public.

    I’ve read that they’ve taken the exhibit down. Yes, we have no bananas.

  2. Vintageport says:

    I mean, what’s a guy to do? Two more days on the wall and the banana would have become black and inedible. Don’t they know there are people starving in Ethiopia? It was the only compassionate thing to do.

  3. dennisl59 says:

    “The banana is the idea…”…

    Which, unfortunately, reminds me of this ‘genius’ of marketing by CNN

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=30&v=vckz6EAn30Y&feature=emb_logo

    posted 12/15 940am Texas[An apple a day will keep the doctor away]Time

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