Quotes
He has persistently disrupted the art world's status quo in meaningful, irreverent, and often controversial ways,
Sotheby's said in the description
Don’t let it slip away, ... These are words I never thought I’d say: Five million dollars for a banana."
auctioneer Oliver Barker was quoted as saying to keep the mood light, before adding with a grinAdditionally, in the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honoring its place in both art history and popular culture."
However, he added
This is not just an artwork,
insisted the winning bidder, Chinese-born cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun
I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history,
he saidThis is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community,
he added
I am honored to be the proud owner of the banana and look forward to it sparking further inspiration and impact for art enthusiasts around the world,
Sun saidI’m thrilled to announce that I’ve bought the banana!” ... I am Justin Sun, and I’m excited to share that I have successfully acquired Maurizio Cattelan’s iconic work, Comedian for $6.2 million.”
he wrote Wednesday night on XIt's an artwork that's a perfect representation of the times that we're living in, which celebrates spectacle,
said adviser Rob Teeters a few hours before the sale
It’s slipping through the auction room.”
Bidding started at $800,000 and within minutes shot up to $2 million, then $3 million, then $4 million, as the auctioneer jokedThere is no better forum to adjudicate the value of art and a single object than the platform of auction."
As Galperin put it
Imagine the change of perception created by the way it was received by the audience,
Perrotin saidThe important thing to know about Maurizio is that his jokes are serious and his serious work is funny, ... there's something very deep in what Maurizio does, so the veneer of it might look like a banana, but there’s something else always at the core of what he’s saying."
Dodie Kazanjian, an editor for Vogue, said in the video, addingI had high hopes, but reality exceeded my expectations. The unforeseen controversy and popularity surrounding Comedian became an integral part of the artwork’s narrative, emphasising the notable role spectators play in shaping it.”
Of the response to Comedian overall Cattelan said last year
I am flattered to some extent. The action reminds me of the Eucharistic or even cannibalistic rituals where people consume the body and blood of their saviour or enemy, as if by ingesting it, they could gain some of their power. There is a certain allure to the concept of “eating” someone’s work as if it could somehow release the creative force that inspired it.”
On people eating his artwork, Cattelan told this mastheadLet’s just say ‘when it’s ripe enough’ is the general rule.”
When asked how often the banana at the centre of the work is replaced, the artist repliedWhat you buy when you buy Cattelan’s ‘Comedian’ is not the banana itself, but a certificate of authenticity that grants the owner the permission and authority to reproduce this banana and duct tape on their wall as an original artwork by Maurizio Cattelan,
said Sotheby's head of contemporary art, David Galperin
No important, profound, meaningful artwork of the past 100 years or 200 years, or our history for that matter, did not provoke some kind of discomfort when it was first unveiled,
Galperin saidReturns in the market have been flat or decreasing over the last decade,
said Michael Moses, who tracks the investment potential of artworks for clients
To me, 'Comedian' was not a joke; it was a sincere commentary and a reflection on what we value. At art fairs, speed and business reign, so I saw it like this: If I had to be at a fair, I could sell a banana like others sell their paintings. I could play within the system, but with my rules."
In a 2021 interview with The Art Newspaper, Cattelan said