The Banana That Broke the Internet: Maurizio Cattelan's 'Comedian' Heads to Auction at Sotheby's

No other artwork from the twenty-first century has provoked scandal, sparked imagination, and upended the very definition of contemporary art like Maurizio Cattelan’s 'Comedian,' whose debut at Art Basel Miami Beach in December 2019 captivated the world. Now, with an estimate of $1-1.5 million, this viral sensation is making history once again as it heads to auction at Sotheby’s Now & Contemporary Evening Sale.

Comprised of a banana fastened to a wall with duct tape, hung exactly 160 centimeters from the floor, 'Comedian' belongs to the rare league of artworks that need no introduction, having quickly erupted into a viral global sensation that drew record crowds, social media inundation, landed the cover of The New York Post, and divided viewers and critics alike. Passionately debated, rhapsodically venerated, and hotly contested – and eaten not only once, but twice – the work headlined news stories shared around the world, becoming the most talked-about artwork of the century. Evoking and advancing the strategies of his predecessors with sardonic and subversive wit, Cattelan – in his greatest coup to date – single-handedly prompted the world to reconsider how we define art, and the value we seek in it.

We may be in on Cattelan’s joke, but 'Comedian' is anything but.

Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian heads to live auction on 20 November in New York at Sotheby’s Now & Contemporary Auction.

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