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Last week, people flocked to the annual Art Basel showcase in Miami, an event that displays the works of some of the world’s most notable artists as well as those trying to make a name for themselves.
One of the people who had his work on display was Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, who previously made a name for himself with works including a fully-functioning toilet made of 18-karat gold that was installed at the Guggenheim in 2016 before it disappeared from a British palace where it was on display earlier this year.
At this year’s Miami event, Cattelan was the talk of the town thanks to his newest project, Comedian, which was put together after he purchased a banana at a local store and duct-taped it to the wall before it sold for $120,000.
The installation drew countless visitors—including performance artist David Dutana, who decided to put on a show of his own when he strolled up to the wall before untaping the banana and wolfing it down.
While Dutana was swiftly escorted out, the banana was swiftly replaced and he suffered no repercussions from the stunt (the piece of fruit apparently comes with a certificate of authenticity that allows the banana to be replaced without losing its value—as well as a 14-page manual for how to reinstall it).
The gallery that hosted the piece tasked security with keeping a close eye on it before it was removed on Sunday but the wall that it hung on didn’t stay blank for long, as it was quickly replaced by a message written in lipstick that read “Epstein Didn’t Kill Himself” in reference to the suspicious death of the man who was suspected of running a massive pedophilia ring.
https://twitter.com/sachasteph_/status/1203818844315361280
https://twitter.com/GiancarloSopo/status/1203875430803087367
Police arrested 46-year-old Massachusetts man Roderick Webber for criminal mischief, who explained the motivation behind his supposed vandalism by saying, “If someone can eat the $120,000 banana and not get arrested, why can’t I write on the wall?”
I think he makes a valid point but I guess the cops just don’t understand true art when they see it.