Cattelan’s banana disappears again, it was stolen in France

It is not the first time that the work ends up at the center of similar episodes. In fact, the very nature of Comedian requires the replacement of the fruit every three days, to preserve its appearance and conceptual meaning. In July last year, a visitor even ate the banana on display. On that occasion the museum staff intervened quickly and replaced her without legal consequences. With his usual irony, Cattelan had commented on the incident by declaring himself disappointed by the fact that the visitor had only eaten the banana and not also the adhesive tape that kept it fixed to the wall. This time, however, the museum has chosen a different line. “Since the person responsible has not been identified, there is no possibility of dialogue”, explained the managers of the cultural institution, underlining that this is the second similar episode and an issue linked to respect for the work.

Presented for the first time at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019 with an initial price of 120 thousand dollars, Comedian has become one of the symbols of the most provocative contemporary art. The work intends to question the public on the very concept of art and the value attributed to artistic objects. The installation’s notoriety grew thanks to sensational episodes. During his first exhibition in Miami, performer David Datuna ate the banana in front of visitors, simply claiming he was hungry. Market interest, however, never waned. In 2024, cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun purchased a version of the work for $5.2 million and, a few days later, consumed the banana in front of cameras in Hong Kong.

Maurizio Cattelan is also known for other provocative works, including “America”, the famous working toilet in 18-karat solid gold. The work was symbolically offered to then US President Donald Trump during his first term in the White House.

“America” ​​itself was at the center of a sensational theft in the United Kingdom on the night between 13 and 14 September 2019. Last March a British court found guilty two men accused of stealing the precious cabinet during an exhibition set up in a historic 18th century residence, birthplace of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in Blenheim Palace. The work was dismantled and melted into several parts; the gold was never recovered.