Maurizio Cattelan’s ‘Comedian’ Sells for $6.2 million
Maurizio Cattelan, an Italian artist famed for creating provocative and hyper-realistic installations, has sold his artwork ‘Comedian’ for $6.2 million. The piece features a banana taped to a wall, challenging conventional interpretations of art’s value.
Purchase at Sotheby’s Auction
The artwork was purchased by Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. Initially shocking the art world when it debuted at Art Basel in Miami in 2019, the piece started at a price of $800,000 and rose to $5.2 million, with the final price including the buyer’s commission.
Challenging the Value of Art
In an interview with Italian daily La Repubblica, Cattelan explained that ‘Comedian’ challenges viewers to reflect on the dynamics of the art market and the value of art itself. The piece, the first version of which was created with a 25-cent banana, encourages us to consider what the work reveals about us as spectators.
Critique of the Art Market
Cattelan further criticized the art market, suggesting that the system might be fragile if it takes a banana stuck on a wall as a serious piece of art. He also referred to ‘Comedian’ as a laugh against the tired system, emphasizing the power of irony and simplicity.
Cattelan’s Artistic Style
The 64-year-old artist is known for his bold and unconventional installations and sculptures. Some of his notable works include a fake horse hanging from a ceiling, a sculpture of the late Pope John Paul II struck by a meteorite, and a marble hand displaying an obscene gesture in front of the Milan Stock Exchange.
