Art collectors are known for their extravagant purchases and eccentric tastes, but one collector has taken things to a whole new level. In December 2019, Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork “Comedian” made headlines when it sold for a whopping $120,000 at Art Basel Miami Beach. The piece consisted of a banana duct-taped to a wall, and while many were left scratching their heads at the price tag, one collector saw it as a golden opportunity.
New York-based collector Emmanuel Perrotin was the lucky buyer of “Comedian,” but his obsession with the banana didn’t stop there. In a recent interview, Perrotin revealed that he has offered to buy 100,000 more bananas from Cattelan, at a cost of $6 million. This would allow him to recreate the artwork on a massive scale, turning the concept of a simple banana taped to a wall into a global phenomenon.
Perrotin’s bold move has sparked a debate within the art world about the value of conceptual art and the role of collectors in shaping the market. While some see the purchase as a clever way to capitalize on a viral moment, others view it as a cynical exploitation of the art world’s obsession with novelty and shock value.
However, Perrotin remains unfazed by the criticism, stating that he is simply following his passion for collecting and supporting contemporary artists. He sees “Comedian” as a symbol of the power of art to provoke thought and stir emotions, and he believes that by expanding the artwork to a larger scale, he can create a powerful statement about consumerism and mass production.
Only time will tell whether Perrotin’s gamble will pay off, but one thing is for certain – the art world will be watching closely to see what he does next. And who knows, maybe we’ll soon see a banana duct-taped to a wall in every corner of the globe, courtesy of one daring collector with a taste for the unexpected.