Seems like odd things sell like hotcakes at contemporary and avantgarde art shows and it appears that old fruit will cost art collectors a pretty penny.
Edited by: TJVNews.com
At the upper crust Art Basel Miami exposition that draws the world’s crème de la crème of art collectors and aficionados it appears that a banana which had been duct-taped to a wall has been sold to a buyer for staggering $120,000. Another interesting feature of the annual art confab is that children are selling their paintings for up to $75,000. Not bad for a kid with a paint brush.
A New York Post article indicated that the banana that was duct taped to a wall and presented to the world as a classic example of rare and unique art was the brainchild of respected Italian artist, Maurizio Cattelan who bought the fruit at a supermarket and taped it to a white wall at the Perrotin Parisian gallery during a VIP preview party, according to Artnet.com.
A collector from France purchased the unusual piece which was titled, “Comedian” for its $120K listed price, according to the Post article. A second edition later sold at the same price to yet another French collector. A third version is selling for $150K although Cattelan, has intentions of selling it to a museum, according to the NY Post.
Speaking to Artnet about the genesis of the banana piece, Cattelan said that he had been working on it for a year. Originally, the artist had attempted to construct a banana out of bronze and resin, according to the NY Post report and then he came up with a unique idea of how to proceed with it.
“I couldn’t figure out how to finish it,” Catalan mused. “In the end, one day I woke up and I said, ‘The banana is supposed to be a banana.’ ”
As to buyers of Cattelan’s work receiving instructions on what to do with the piece of art when it inevitably begins to rot, there were not given by the artists, nor were buyers advised on how to display it in the appropriate manner in which this kind of art deserves.
The Post reported that a gallery owner named Emmanuel Perrotin said that he will be throwing out the rotting banana unless a buyer wants it for the price he is asking.
About three years ago, the Guggenheim Museum in New York City featured an 8-karat solid-gold toilet that Cattelan made. In some circles, he is considered an artist with a predilection towards being a prankster of sorts. The Post reported that Cattelan rejected the idea that “Comedian” was simply a joke.
Children as young as age seven are featuring their works at Art Basel for tens of thousands of dollars.
Some examples include:
Aelita Andre, a 12-year old expressionist prodigy priced one of her works at the event for $75,000, according to the NY Post.
Elisabeth Anisimow, 13, sold a piece for $12,500 that she created when she was only 11 years old, as was reported by the Post.
A work made out of candy wrappers with the words “Sweet Like Candy” sold for $1500.
The painting, “Waiting for Departure,” depicts two World War II-era children next to a suitcase.
The Post also reported that 15-year old Isabella Koopman — who goes by “Koops” — walked off with $10,000 in sales for four of her colorful collages.
