Anyone who scoffs at the notion of what’s considered “modern art” got the ultimate wake-up Wednesday when a banana duct-taped to a wall sold for $6.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction.
Titled “Comedian,” the piece was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, and it wasn’t the first time he’s sold a banana on a wall for big bucks. Three previous editions of the single banana attached to a white wall with silver duct tape sold for more than $100,000 each.
But Wednesday’s sale was different.
The buyer, Justin Sun and founder of the cryptocurrency platform TRON, acquired a certificate of authenticity, meaning only he can duct-tape a banana to a wall and call it “Comedian.”
And as a bonus, Cattelan ate the banana that had just been sold for more than $6 million in front of its new owner.
Joke And No Joke
Cody bronze artist Tanner Loren is familiar with “Comedian” and its history. He described it as “a title that fits pretty well.”
“I think it's a joke, but it's pretty crazy,” he said. “I remember hearing that the banana kept rotting in the gallery and they had to keep replacing it, which to me is satire in itself. Anytime you make art out of something that's going to go bad, I think that explains the art piece itself.”
That could explain Cosimo Cavallaro’s 2001 art “installation” in Powell, where he covered an abandoned house with six tons of pepper jack cheese. After a few weeks, the installation was torn down, but not before developing an infamously bad smell.
Loren, however, isn’t entirely convinced that “Comedian” is a multimillion-dollar piece because of its artistic attributes, and he doesn't think the buyer has "gone bananas" over it. He knows how money flows in the fine art world.
“Anytime there's a piece of art that sells for an insane amount of money, it usually has a backstory to it,” he said. “I have a tough time believing that, just knowing there are big art collectors out there with a large income they need to get off their books.”
“Comedian” sold for more than $5 million, plus an additional $1 million that went to Sotheby’s. That’ll be a big payday for the artist but could be a much bigger benefit for the buyer.
“It's a temporary thing that they are extending,” Loren said. “Which, to me, says they're trying to fund the artist or the gallery, or somebody is getting some big money out of this.”
Not A Fan
Sculptor Chris Navarro is one of Wyoming’s most well-known contemporary artists. He said he sometimes takes a year or more to create some of his lifelike bronze works of art.
“This looks like it took 10 minutes,” Navarro told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday in reaction to the sale. “This guy’s done this before, and it’s hard to understand. A lot of (the huge sale) is hype, in my opinion.”
Navarro said he doesn’t understand the artistic value of a banana taped to a wall, and that getting $6.2 million for it is a reflection of the buzz created around it rather than it actually having that monetary value.
“It’s a head-scratcher, for sure,” he said. “It makes my art seem like a bargain. Some people have more money than sense is how I look at it.
“It’s not my cup of tea, but there’s 8 billion people out there, so is probably bound to speak with one of them. A banana and duct tape doesn’t inspire me.”
Navarro is a big supporter of Western artists and the annual Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale. This year’s sale saw 104 works of Western art bring in a combined $1.2 million.
“And a banana gets, what, five times that?” he said. “It’s hard to understand.”
Navarro said that perhaps the most ridiculous thing about the story is the effort it took to create “Comedian.” Or, more precisely, the lack of effort.
“There’s not a lot of effort into creating that art,” he said. “The effort put into art should reflect in. how much is sell for. I’ve never sold anything close to that kind of money, and I’ve spent a year working on some pieces.
“You wouldn’t buy a house for $6.2 million if someone spent 10 minutes building it.”
Artist Maurizio Cattelan's "Comedian" — a banana duct-taped to a wall — sold for more than $6 million at a Sotheby's auction Wednesday. As part of the deal, the artist will eat the banana in front of the buyer. (Getty Images) 
Artist Maurizio Cattelan's "Comedian" — a banana duct-taped to a wall — sold for more than $6 million at a Sotheby's auction Wednesday. As part of the deal, the artist will eat the banana in front of the buyer. (Getty Images)
Authenticity In The Eye Of The Beholder
A certificate of authenticity to call a wall-taped banana “Comedian” was real enough to be worth $6.2 million to a cryptocurrency magnate. But that would never be sufficient for Loren and the artists and patrons in his community.
“Most artists create because it's in their soul to create, and the collector buys it because it's something they can't do themselves,” he said. “That creates the value to it. A banana taped to the wall is something I can go home and do. Anyone can.”
Loren takes the authenticity of his work seriously. It keeps him and his fellow Western artists busy and successful in their careers.
While its financial value has been established, Loren can see at least a glimmer of artistic value in “Comedian.” But he won’t follow this inspiration.
“I'm not a dentist, so I can’t pull my own teeth,” he said. “I need someone capable of doing that, so I go to a professional. I try to create things I'm proud of, and I couldn't be proud of something like that. But it’s a unique piece, I will say that.”
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
