Famous ‘Banana with Tape’ to Be Auctioned at Sotheby’s for $1.5 Million After European Tour

The viral creation of the artist Maurizio Cattelan called ‘The Comedian’ will be auctioned again: on Friday, Sotheby's announced that one of the three ‘editions’ of the work of art is coming back on sale. This time, it is expected to fetch between $1 million and $1.5 million, CNN writes.

For their money, the winner of the auction will receive a roll of duct tape and one banana - they can be replaced as needed - as well as a certificate of authenticity, which gives the right to exhibit the work and contains detailed instructions on how to display it.

Sotheby's confirmed to CNN that neither the scotch tape nor the banana are originals.

 ‘The Comedian is a conceptual work of art, and the actual physical materials are replaced with each installation,’ an auction representative said.

‘For me, Comedian was not a joke, it was a sincere commentary and reflection on what we value. Art fairs are all about speed and business, so I saw it this way: if I had to be at a fair, I could sell a banana like others sell their paintings, I could play the system, but by my own rules,’ the author said.

Before the Comedian is put up for auction, Sotheby's will tour the world with it - the work will be shown in New York, London, Paris, Milan, Hong Kong, Dubai, Taipei, Tokyo and Los Angeles.

The inclusion of the work in the auction, which will take place on 20 November, was carefully classified.

The auction organisers believe that both traditional art collectors, for whom a banana sealed with duct tape will be a ‘significant trophy’, and those who would like to have such an unusual exhibit will compete for the work.