Main content

Has the price of art gone bananas?

A banana duct-taped to a wall sold for $6.2 million… it’s since been eaten.

The world’s most expensive banana has been sold at an auction for more than $6 million. It’s Maurizio Cattelan's 2019 work Comedian and it’s literally just a banana duct-taped to a wall.

The new owner bought the right to display the installation along with a guide on how to replace the fruit (it doesn’t stay fresh for long!).

But what makes it art? And why would someone eat a multi-million dollar banana?

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ arts reporter Yasmin Rufo takes us through the story and helps us decide if us taping a banana to a wall in our studio counts as art.

We also hear from two people in the art world - artist Maddie Exton and critic Hakim Bishara - for their thoughts on this infamous banana.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Emily Horler, Hayley Clarke, Benita Barden and Mora Morrison.
Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Available now

12 minutes

Last on

Sat 30 Nov 2024 03:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 29 Nov 2024 18:50GMT
  • Sat 30 Nov 2024 03:50GMT

Podcast