Art?

During the past couple of weeks, a banana has occupied center stage in the continuing discussion regarding what art actually is. Art Basel Miami featured one fastened to a wall with grey duct tape and entitled "Comedian," by the Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan and priced at $120,000. It should probably surprise no one that the work in question sold. Alas for the buyer, another artist came along and cheekily ate the exceptionally expensive fruit.

Maurizio Cattelan, "Comedian," fruit, tape

The problem many have with this entire episode is the idea that something like "Comedian" could be considered art. After all, it's just a banana and ordinary tape. But that view is considerably more narrow than the view that accepts "Comedian" not as the tangible objects but as the concept behind it. That is, the entire work is the art--concept, fruit, tape, metaphor, hullabaloo, and even the unexpected devourer. The whole nexus of idea, work, events, etc. is the art, not the objects and the wall.

For me, "Comedian," has fascinating overtones. First, a comedian in baggy-pants comedy a century ago was the "top banana." For another, a banana peel is as ancient a comedic device as may exist. For a third, the whole idea when taken literally is absurd--taping a banana to a wall and calling it art. And that makes the title amusing, too. Finally, can there be any doubt that the auteur is pointing out the utter abject foolishness of the "art world" in pricing the absurdity at $120,000? The thing about comedian (for me) that makes it even more amusing is that so far three editions have been sold. Piero Manzoni would be proud. Mr. Cattelan has created an engaging piece that provokes thought, echoes through several layers of meaning, and provides not only smirks and chuckles but a poke in the eye for the art world.

If you think Mr. Cattelan sounds vaguely familiar, it is probably because he is also the artist who had functional, solid-gold toilet installed in the Guggenheim Museum a few years ago. The work, "America," was in its own small lockable room and could be employed as a traditional toilet. A few months ago it went on display at Blenheim Palace in the United Kingdom, only to be promptly stolen (and probably melted down), although the likely thieves have been arrested. Actually, the accidental extension of the metaphor--"America" being stolen--seems appropriate these days.

Oh, and the age-old question is, "is it art?" To which I answer yes. It was conceived, it seems, as an artful episode and statement. Mr. Cattelan was not making found-object art the was Picasso did, for example, out of bicycle parts. Instead he made a crude assemblage that became something different when he named it. And it became even more different--almost self-parody--when priced as it was. So yes, in my opinion, "Comedian" is a clever piece of concept art. I like it.

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Today is Friday the 13th, so here is a digital offering in keeping with the legendary bad luck day. "Curiosity" is a black feline. What can I say? I'm a traditionalist.