Someone ate the $120,000 banana at Art Basel

[CatWoman]

MIAMI — Someone ate a really expensive snack at Art Basel Saturday afternoon — to the tune of $120,000.

For one banana.

By now you have probably heard of the now world-famous banana duct-taped to Emmanuel Perrotin’s outer gallery wall at Art Basel Miami Beach. The piece that sold to an art collector for $120,000.

The $120,000 banana — a real, rather ripe and edible one — is the work of Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and titled “Comedian.” The work comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, and owners are told that they can replace the banana, as needed.

Instructions on how to replace the banana are not included.

But New York-based performance artist David Datuna ate the banana at around 1:45 p.m. in front of a convention center full of art lovers, according to gallery representatives.

While the banana was indeed consumed, apparently that doesn’t diminish the integrity of the six-figure art work, said Lucien Terras, director of museum relations for Galerie Perrotin.

“He did not destroy the art work. The banana is the idea,” Terras said.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/someone-ate-the-120-000-banana-at-art-basel-yes-really/ar-BBXUa13?ocid=ob-fb-enus-580&fbclid=IwAR2s1P-CRU0Okc5GzlSDWfZago5I7igaXiW8C4ZcxeAipGSR4FeLHy-QxyE

[tenderfoot]

1. This whole story sounds like total bullshit

eom

[Zoonart]

6. I have made my entire adult career as an artist

And also find this to be ridiculous first world bullshit.

[tenderfoot]

9. Someone's gearing up for deep cuts to the arts...

that's what this shit is about.

[LisaL]

15. At least gold toilet (work of the same artist) was actually made out of gold.

[5X]

2. i guess it wasn't filled with cocaine as i suspected. n/t

[Tanuki]

3. ........

[hay rick]

4. Need a second banana?

Paging Art Carney...

[LisaL]

14. I can provide one for a mere $60,000.

[panader0]

5. Some people have more dollars than sense.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

8. While most of us have more cents than dollars.

.................

[Blue_true]

17. Yep. I almost tore the side of my face off with an eyeroll. nt

[Laffy Kat]

7. Ate the banana then split? Next? nt

[Throckmorton]

16. I would hang on to my day job,

Just to be safe.
Ate the banana, how very incisive of him.

[jberryhill]

10. If he's found guilty he will resort to appeal

[ProfessorGAC]

30. Very Punny!

Well, it made me laugh!

[Princess Turandot]

32. That probably won't come to fruition.

[LisaL]

11. So basically somebody paid $120,000 for a piece of duct tape.

The art work appears to be a banana duct taped to the wall. Banana can be replaced as "needed." And somebody ate it. So what is left is a piece of duct tape. Oh and a certificate of "authenticity."

[jberryhill]

12. But it's the good stuff

[LisaL]

13. If I am buying duct tape for $120,000 it better be made out of gold and diamonds.

[tblue37]

26. A friend who flies small planes tells me duct tape is often used for certain kinds

of repairs on them.

[sir pball]

31. It's called Speed Tape and it's even used on commercial aircraft

Looks like duct tape, but it's aluminum with some serious adhesive, and it's also about eighty bucks a roll.

There's also apparently "Nuclear Grade Duct Tape" - I have questions.

[Raine]

24. Well, there probably is the peel left

unless the banana eater 🍌 ate that too or took it with them. 🤔 😝

[torius]

18. from Duchamp to DuCHOMP nt

[GReedDiamond]

20. "There is no taste possible." - M Duchamp - nt

[dalton99a]

19. The "art" world has a big money laundering problem

[delisen]

21. There is Art & there is an Art Industry-2 different things

[Scurrilous]

22. You can get one of these for a lot cheaper.

[mercuryblues]

23. Sounds like a way to launder some $$$

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

25. This would make a fine article for Art Digest

[Buns_of_Fire]

27. Watch your local gallery for my newest masterpiece,

"Certificate of Authenticity". A tasteful and understated work, suitable for framing in your New York apartment, your French Chateau, or your Russian Dacha, "Certificate of Authenticity" is an original Certificate of Authenticity, certifying that this is, indeed, an authentic Certificate of Authenticity. Opening bids start at $35,000.

Also, a limited edition of 1000 authentic lithographs of "Certificate of Authenticity" (each with their own Certificate of Authenticity) available for $1500 each. Signed by the Artist, add $500. A Certificate of Authenticity that this is the authentic signature of the Artist, add $250 more.

All sales final. Cash only, no credit cards accepted.

- Panini di Fuoco, artista eccezionale

[KentuckyWoman]

34. hahahahahaha

Panini di Fuoco

You are a scoundrel. I like that.

[Hav]

29. So someone did the only useful thing with it

I wouldn't be surprised if the person ate it just to show what bs this “piece of art“ is.

A piece of duct tape + a replacable banana... I refuse to believe that anyone paid 120k for this because of an appreciation for art or the artist. I'm starting to wonder whether the artist and buyers really wanted this kind of attention. It just smells like something else is going on.

[KentuckyWoman]

33. I have no understanding of art. None.

My home is adorned with the crayon scrawls of children in my family, meaningful scenery of trips in days past, A frame with the mortgage stamped paid from back in the day (we didn't burn ours). These are things important enough to put a nail into the wall for. A rotten banana glued to a canvas? Eh... probably not.

[Ace Rothstein]

35. I mean, that's what you're supposed to do with a banana.