Seoul National University Student's 'Banana Stuck on Wall'... Expected to Sell for Around 2 Billion KRW at US Auction

Cartelan's Work 'Comedian' Hits US Auction Market
Banana on Wall, Estimated Sale Price Up to 2 Billion KRW
"Conceptual Art Piece... Mocking the Reality of the Art Market"

The work "Comedian" by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, which gained attention as the "100 million banana," is expected to be auctioned in New York, USA. CNN reported on the 26th (local time) that "Cattelan's Comedian is scheduled to be auctioned at Sotheby's headquarters in New York on the 20th of next month, with an estimated selling price ranging from 1 million dollars (about 1.4 billion KRW) to a maximum of 1.5 million dollars (about 2 billion KRW)."

Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan's work 'Comedian'
[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

"Comedian" was made in a total of three pieces, all of which were previously sold for well over 100 million KRW each. Two pieces were sold to private collectors for 120,000 dollars (about 160 million KRW) each, and the selling price of the remaining piece was kept secret but is reported to have been sold for a higher price. The one up for auction this time is one of these three pieces, and the seller's identity has not been confirmed.

"Comedian" is a work that features a banana taped to a white wall with duct tape, intended to mock the realities of the art market. The work sparked debate over its value simply by presenting an ordinary banana taped to a wall as an art piece. Some critics view this work as following the tradition of "conceptual art" that continues from Marcel Duchamp's work "Fountain," which exhibited a urinal in a museum. The important aspect is not the banana as an object itself, but the idea of "taping a banana to the wall."

If sold at this auction, the buyer will receive a roll of duct tape, one banana, a certificate of authenticity, and an official guide for installing the artwork. Sotheby's stated, "'Comedian' is a conceptual artwork, and the actual physical materials are replaced at every exhibition."

David Calpherin, head of contemporary art at Sotheby's, said, "Comedian is an innovative and bold masterpiece," adding, "This work, balanced with profound critical thinking and destructive wit, defines both the artist and our generation." He also said, "Questioning the artistic value of Comedian itself ultimately realizes the essential conceptual idea of the work."

"Comedian" was also exhibited last year at the Leeum Museum of Art in Korea, where a Seoul National University student peeled off the artwork. Neither the museum nor Cattelan made a big issue of the student's action, but some online criticism arose, claiming the student damaged the work simply to gain attention. However, the student later said in an interview with a media outlet, "Cattelan's work is a rebellion against authority. It could be seen as another rebellion against rebellion."

At the 2019 Art Basel Miami exhibition, American artist David Datuna also peeled off the banana. At that time, neither Art Basel nor Cattelan took any special measures, and rather, there was public opinion online that ridiculed the artwork.