‘Comedian’: a banana, some tape, a wall and where it all ended up
Written by Emma Roberts, Graphic by Colleen Miller
In December 2019, the world was graced with an art piece that was simple, bold and controversial. The place? The Art Basel in Miami Beach. The man behind it? Maurizio Cattelan. The price? $120,000. The art? A banana duct-taped to a wall. What happened, why and where is it now?
It all started when Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan unveiled “Comedian” at the Art Basel in Miami, where SCAD occasionally showcases art.
One of three editions, “Comedian” consisted of two elements: a real banana and some duct tape. Almost immediately, crowds of art enthusiasts converged on the piece, taking selfies and writing think pieces. Soon enough, “Comedian” would spread to Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Reddit. Dozens of articles were written, ranging from praise describing Cattelan’s boldness, to mocking it for being a piece of fruit taped to a wall — which to be fair, it is.
The debate became even greater when one edition sold for $120,000. According to the buyers, Billy and Beatrice Cox, they bought the art knowing that it was absurd, but that in time “Comedian” would “become an iconic historical object.” The couple drew comparisons to Andy Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Cans” and how it was perceived as absurd in its time but grew to be an iconic work of art.
The story of “Comedian” doesn’t end there, however. Soon after the piece was put up, artist David Datuna engaged in his own piece of art, entitled “Hungry Artist,” where he took “Comedian” off the wall and ate it. Datuna said the piece tasted good, but that it had too much tape for his liking.
The banana was replaced later that day, and no legal action was taken against Datuna. Soon after that, another artist, Rod Webber, scrawled “Epstien didn’t kill himself” in red lipstick where the banana had once been. This is in reference to Jeffery Epstein, a convicted sex trafficker who reportedly hung himself while in jail, though many doubt the official story. Webber was not as lucky as Datuna, however, and was charged with criminal mischief soon after. Though, according to CBS Miami, the charges were later dropped. Eventually, the exhibition ended, and “Comedian” was gone.
Still, this is not the end of the story. Despite bananas rotting away only several days later, the piece does live on. A 14-page instruction manual, complete with pictures and diagrams, was given to the buyers on how to replicate and present “Comedian.” In late 2020, the piece was donated to the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, though it is unknown when the piece will actually go on display.
Those who want to wear “Comedian” with pride can buy a shirt from the Perrotin Gallery, a gallery associated with Maurizio Cattelan’s work.
When all is said and done, “Comedian” shows that art is not simply the contents of the piece itself, but the story that encapsulates it. Art can not only shape the way we see the world, but how we interact with the pieces themselves, and how we can contribute to the story of art.
