About that banana

So there’s this famous banana. Or, at least, there was a banana which is now famous for having been eaten*.

The artist is Maurizio Cattelan who is well known as a satirist and a jokester. The banana seems pretty tame compared to some of his other output.

This banana business isn’t really my thing. While I do enjoy some more conceptual art and artists, I prefer art that can be accessed in many ways by many viewers. Art like Cattelan’s requires the viewer be very well versed in a particular tradition art. That’s not bad it’s just not broadly appealing. It requires being an insider. So much so, that to an outsider, this art just seems absurd. I was listening to my stories and my virtual podcast pals got increasingly mock-angry with these shenanigans. Mostly though, I think they were just painfully aware that they are just not in on the joke.

I don’t like the banana, but I do like that the banana makes me think…

I also like to imagine that all parties - the artist, the gallery - everyone involved are totally honest and serious; everyone is playing fair. And if so…

Anyway, here’s a sketch of an art starter kit. Happy New Year.

* I think the banana eater, an artist himself, made an error in judgement. He’ll be The Hungry Artist for the rest of his life.