The most expensive banana in history

The value of works proposed by contemporary art appears most often unreasonable to people outside this small world. New proof given at the Art Basel Miami Beach where a conceptual work, in fact a real banana taped on a panel, was sold 120 000 USD.

 

 

 

Art Basel, a global platform for art at its Miami Beach event, brought together dozens of art sellers from around the world to present hundreds of works. On the stand of Frenchman Emmanuel Perrotin, a work by the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan caused a sensation.

 

 

 

Entitled 'Comedian' this conceptual work of art is composed of a real banana, glued to the panel with a big gray-silver adhesive tape. The work exists in 5 copies, 2 of which are reserved for museums and 3 which have just been sold in Miami to private collectors at a price of 120 000 USD.

 

 

 

To add to the buzz, another artist, David Datuna, removed the tape, took the banana, peeled it and eaten it in front of a multitude of cameras. David Datuna has not been arrested and the gallerist will not sue him. The work was restored immediately, with a spare banana, but disassembled a day earlier than the official closing of the event. Because of too much crowds to see and take selfies with 'Comedian' at the risk of compromising the safety of works of art from neighboring stands.

 

 

 

"The work has a COA (certificate of authenticity) that contains the exact instructions for installation and authenticates that the work is by Maurizio Cattelan Without a COA, a conceptual work of art is nothing more than a material representation" said the seller.