Maurizio Cattelan Can’t Keep a Banana on the Wall

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Summary

  • Maurizio Cattelan’s banana artwork “The Comedian” gets devoured again, this time at Centre-Pompidou-Metz
  • The piece has been eaten multiple times from a viral act by artist David Datuna in Miami to a hungry student at Seoul’s Leeum Museum in 2023

Inevitably, someone decided to take another taste of Maurizio Cattelan’s notorious artwork “The Comedian.” This time, the infamous banana piece was consumed at the Centre Pompidou-Metz located in eastern France.

In the ongoing exhibition titled “Endless Sunday,” a visitor hastily consumed a piece of fruit that had been affixed to the wall. The security team reacted promptly and within minutes, another banana took its place, returning things back to normal.

In a playful response, the Italian artist-provocateur expressed his dismay that the individual who ate the banana did not also consume its peel and adhesive. According to Cattelan, this museum-goer had apparently misunderstood the artwork itself as just the banana, failing to fully engage with it.

Ever since its unveiling at Art Basel Miami back in 2019, “The Comedian” has ignited discussions, puzzled many, and garnered an abundance of social media interaction. Initially priced at up to $150,000 USD and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, this artwork has experienced numerous incidents – from a viral stunt by artist David Datuna in Miami where it was consumed, to being eaten by a student at Seoul’s Leeum Museum as recently as 2023.

Regardless of the commotion, these establishments stay unperturbed. Just like a banana, there are straightforward guidelines for substitution. As confirmed by the Pompidou-Metz, the exhibit will persist on the walls until it concludes in 2027.

Centre Pompidou-Metz
1 Parv. des Droits de l’Homme
CS 90490, 57000
Metz, France

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2025-07-21 20:25