Cattelan's $120,000 Banana Stirs Controversy at Art Basel Miami Beach

At Art Basel Miami Beach, Maurizio Cattelan's sculpture Comedian—a banana duct-taped to a wall—became a viral sensation. The work, priced at $120,000 per edition, was presented by Galerie Perrotin. Cattelan previously used similar duct-tape techniques on gallerists Massimo De Carlo and Emmanuel Perrotin. Performance artist David Datuna removed and ate the banana, facing no legal action. Richard Leydier critiques the piece as cynical, comparing it to ready-mades and questioning the art world's dynamics. He notes Cattelan's Instagram account and contrasts his work with Gianni Motti's humor. The incident sparked media coverage, including a New York Post headline declaring the art world insane.