Banana Duct-Taped to Wall Sells for $6.2M at Sotheby's
Banana Duct-Taped to Wall Sells for $6.2M at Sotheby's
The Facts
The artwork, which debuted at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019, comes with a certificate of authenticity and instructions for replacing the banana when it rots.Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan's conceptual artwork "Comedian," consisting of a banana attached to a wall with duct tape, sold for $6.2M at Sotheby's contemporary art auction in New York on Wednesday.
During its initial exhibition at Art Basel, the artwork drew such large crowds that it had to be removed from display, and at one point, a performance artist ate the banana as part of his own artistic statement.The artwork, which was bought by Chinese cryptocurrency firm founder Justin Sun, comes with a certificate of authenticity and instructions for replacing the banana when it rots. This comes after the piece debuted at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019.
The Spin
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Modern art like this is not some unique form of social commentary but rather a money laundering scheme. Its low production costs and subjective valuation allow for inflated prices that disguise illicit transactions. It's sad that the art industry, which used to be led by the classics, has been hijacked by those who either wish to commit financial fraud or degenerate our culture.
