The Million Dollar Banana

In 2019, an art piece was created by Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan, which was composed simply of a ripe, yellow banana and some duct tape. This art piece was titled Comedian. Although this piece of art is simple, the banana taped to a wall has an interesting story behind it.

Surprisingly, this simple art piece sold for approximately 6.2 million dollars! It’s fascinating because it looks like something anyone could easily recreate. So why is it so expensive? Could an ordinary person make some crazy cash by replicating it? While it might seem that way, the reality is different.

Perhaps its high price tag comes from the artist behind it, Maurizio Cattelan, who has created other striking works, including a gold-covered toilet titled, “America”. Or maybe its value was driven by the bidding war, as there was only one available at the time of the auction.

Many interpret Comedian in different ways, but one of my thoughts is that the duct tape symbolizes how comedy and fun are held back by the seriousness of life- by those who see joy and fun as unnecessary. The banana, on the other hand, represents comedy and fun, breaking through.

So who would buy this so-called “art”? Apparently, there are people interested in this different type of conceptual art because “Comedian” was sold to three people, and Cattelan made a new one every time. When the banana starts to get bad, it is replaced with another ripe banana. “Original”? Hmmm… Maybe not. 

According to Google, conceptual art is art is meant to give viewers a certain message. This style of art focuses more on the meaning behind the art, rather than the appearance.  Conceptual art is 3D and often made from items you would see in life, such as household furniture. As Emmanuel Perrotin (French art dealer) stated, “This conceptual piece has already shaped our era and will continue to inspire debate and reflection for many years to come.”

Comedian is a truly puzzling art piece, sparking curiosity about its deeper meaning. Hopefully, you’ve gained some insight into the story behind this million-dollar banana!