An art student from South Korea, Noh Huyn-soo, consumed a banana from artist Maurizio Cattelan’s installation titled “Comedian” at the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul.
The artwork featured a ripe banana affixed to a wall with duct tape as part of Cattelan’s exhibition “WE.” Noh stated that he was “hungry” after skipping breakfast. After finishing the banana, the student taped the peel back onto the wall. The museum later replaced the eaten banana with a new one. The incident, which lasted over a minute, was filmed by Noh’s friend. The Leeum Museum of Art has not responded to inquiries from the BBC, but local media reported that the museum will not seek damages from the student. The banana on display is reportedly replaced every two to three days.
This is not the first time a banana from Cattelan’s installation has been consumed; in 2019, performance artist David Datuna removed a banana from the wall after the artwork was sold for $120,000 at Art Basel in Miami, and the banana was promptly replaced without any further action taken.
Maurizio Cattelan is an Italian visual artist known primarily for his hyperrealistic sculptures and installations, Cattelan’s practice also includes curating and publishing. His satirical approach to art has resulted in him being frequently labelled as a joker or prankster of the art world. Self-taught as an artist, Cattelan has exhibited internationally in museums and Biennials. In 2011 the Guggenheim Museum, New York presented a retrospective of his work.
