Viral banana paintings duct-taped to wall sells for $6.2M

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The talk about whether or not Maurizio Cattelan’s banana duct-taped to a wall set up qualifies as artwork could also be ongoing. However that hasn’t stopped it from promoting for hundreds of thousands of {dollars} at a Sotheby’s artwork public sale in New York.

The successful bidder nabbed the Italian artist’s conceptual paintings, titled “Comedian” and comprised merely of a banana mounted with duct tape to a wall, for a hefty $6.2 million on Wednesday, far surpassing the $120,000 it was offered for at Artwork Basel Miami Seashore in 2019. 

Earlier than the bidding kicked off, the paintings’s worth was estimated between $1 million to $1.5 million. It was the primary time the paintings was provided at public sale, in keeping with Sotheby’s. 

The client receives a roll of duct tape and one banana, in addition to a certificates of authenticity and official directions for putting in the work, the public sale home stated.

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Whereas the paintings is small, measuring 20 cm by 20 cm by 5 cm, Sotheby’s head of up to date artwork for the Americas, David Galperin, described it as “the most influential and radical artworks of the last century.” 

Galperin stated that “Cattelan rocked the foundations of the art world, and brought art to the center of mainstream popular culture.”

Folks view Maurizio Cattelan’s “Comedian” throughout a press preview for Sotheby’s Night Public sale on Oct. 25, 2024, in New York Metropolis.  (John Nacion/Getty Photos / Getty Photos)

In 2019, when Cattelan’s “Comedian” debuted in Miami, it was met with confusion and in some instances, amusement. However the piece gained international consideration following its $120,000 price ticket at Artwork Basel. A social media debate rapidly ensued concerning the nature and worth of artwork. 

In December 2019, when Comic’s set up at Perrotin’s sales space was unveiled, Sotheby’s stated the crowds had been so overwhelming that the paintings needed to be de-installed earlier than the tip of the honest. All three editions of the paintings had been offered. 

Two individuals at completely different artwork installations additionally reportedly ripped it off the wall and ate it. 

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Sotheby’s stated Cattelan’s Comic “single handedly prompted the world to reconsider how we define art.”

“We may be in on Cattelan’s joke, but Comedian is anything but,” Sotheby’s wrote. 

Artist Maurizio Cattelan’s “Comedian” is seen throughout a press preview for Sotheby’s Night Public sale on Oct. 25, 2024, in New York Metropolis.  (John Nacion/Getty Photos / Getty Photos)

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The Perrotin Gallery described the Italian artist as one of many “most popular” and “controversial artists on the contemporary art scene.” 

The gallery stated he has a “playful and provocative use of materials, objects, and gestures set in challenging contexts forces commentary and engagement.” 

Galperin advised The Related Press that the successful bidder will not purchase the banana itself, however moderately the certificates of authenticity, giving them permission and authority to breed the banana and duct tape on their wall as an unique paintings by Cattelan.