Two of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received in my life came from my brother, who gifted me with these gems: “Never pass up a free meal or a free beer,” and “Always be careful where you stick your finger next.” I have passed those tidbits on myself from time to time, and I’m going to have to add “Never pay any serious attention to modern art” to the list.
Why? At Sotheby’s in New York, the latest iteration of a work of art consisting of a banana duct-taped to a wall is expected to fetch a million dollars at auction.
The yellow banana fixed to the white wall with silver duct tape is a work entitled “Comedian,” by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. It first debuted in 2019 as an edition of three fruits at the Art Basel Miami Beach fair, where it became a much-discussed sensation.
Was it a prank? A commentary on the state of the art world?…
