ALBAWABA - Sotheby's, one of the world's largest brokers of fine and decorative art, jewelry, and collectibles, announced an upcoming auction for the viral banana artwork by Maurizio Cattelan, the famous Italian visual artist.
‘Comedian’ worth $1.5 million
The artwork, titled ‘Comedian,’ is a conceptual piece featuring a banana taped to a wall. It will be auctioned by Sotheby's this November with an estimated price of $1.5 million, according to Bloomberg.
"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,” stated Cattelan.
According to CNN, the winner of the auction will receive a roll of duct tape and one banana, along with a certificate of authenticity and official installation instructions. (AFP)
The famous banana artwork was first introduced in 2019 at the Art Basel Miami Beach fair and gained significant recognition since it was sold for $120,000 five years ago.
People lined up to see the viral banana artwork in 2019 when Georgian-American artist David Datuna grabbed, peeled, and ate the banana in front of the crowd. Datuna described his act as a pure art performance.
‘Comedian’ had three editions: two were sold for approximately $120,000 each to private collectors, while the third edition was donated to the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
According to CNN, the winner of the auction will receive a roll of duct tape and one banana, along with a certificate of authenticity and official installation instructions. It is important to note that the tape and banana are not the originals, as this is one of three editions of the famous artwork.
An auction spokesperson said: “Comedian is a conceptual artwork, and the actual physical materials are replaced with every installation.”
