Despite its simplicity, a banana duct-taped to a wall by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan has become an iconic work of modern art. But for one South Korean art student, it was simply an enticing snack. The student removed the fruit from the wall of the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul and devoured it. The student explained to the museum that he ate the banana because he was hungry. After consuming the fruit, the student taped the peel back onto the wall. The peel was later replaced with a fresh banana. The artwork, entitled “Comedian,” sold for $120,000 at Art Basel Miami Beach in December 2019. Two other editions of the piece were also sold at the fair.
This is not the first time someone has removed the banana from the wall. Performance artist David Datuna made headlines in 2019 when he ate a banana that was on display at the Perrotin Gallery at Art Basel in Miami. Datuna defended his actions, calling it an art performance and not an act of vandalism. The banana itself is regularly swapped out every two to three days and is not for sale.
Cattelan is known for his satirical pieces that challenge popular culture and often provoke debates around conceptual art. The banana symbolizes global trade, and Cattelan turns mundane objects into “vehicles of both delight and critique.” However, the artwork is also embroiled in a copyright battle. Joe Morford, an artist from Glendale, California, has alleged that Cattelan plagiarized his 2000 artwork titled “Banana & Orange.” Morford had registered the artwork with the US Copyright Office and posted the work on his website, Facebook, and YouTube accounts long before Cattelan created “Comedian.” Cattelan’s lawyers have argued that Morford has “no valid copyright” to the elements of the artwork – the banana and the duct tape stuck against a wall.
Cattelan’s other viral artwork was a solid 18-carat-gold toilet entitled “America,” valued at around $6 million. It was first installed at New York’s Guggenheim in 2016 and was open to use by visitors. In 2019, it was stolen from Blenheim Palace in England, where it was being exhibited and has never been found.