A man Eats a Banana

In 2019, a single banana duct-taped to a wall sold for $120,000 at the prestigious Art Basel fair in Miami. The artist was Maurizio Cattelan, and the artwork’s title was Comedian.

Justin Sun, a Chinese cryptocurrency businessman, bought an art piece for $6.2 million. It features a banana taped to a wall. He ate the banana and shared it on social media. Who would not? Then he shared his experience.

“Many friends have asked me about the taste of the banana,” Sun said. “To be honest, for a banana with such a back story, the taste is naturally different from an ordinary one. I could discern a hint of what Big Mike bananas from 100 years ago might have tasted like,” said Sun.

The Idea, not the Object

There was a debate about whether it was art. For some people, it was just a banana and, of course, it was a better choice to buy it from a market. No need to be an economist.

Here’s the catch: He did not buy that banana.

In other words, the banana was not the point.

The idea was.

In conceptual art, the object is secondary to the idea. Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain is a urinal displayed as art in 1917. People discussed it more than a hundred years ago.

After a short consideration of the edibility of art, we can approach it from a different angle.

But first, I would like to explain one more concept.

Today, I mistakenly referred to an art cook instead of an art book.

What is a Freudian Slip?

Freudian slip.

Some of you know that concept, and some of you may not have heard of it. Some of you think Freud is an old concept, like your grandmother’s handmade tablecloth. You respect it, but you think it is old-fashioned. All are welcome.

Here is the explanation: Have you ever wanted to say one thing but ended up saying something else? It can feel like those words flew out of your mouth instantly!

Imagine a man who cheats on his girlfriend. He is afraid, at night, while sleeping or even dreaming, to call out the name of the other woman he is in love with. He’s so scared that he can’t even sleep. He’s afraid the truth will come out. One day, when he is caught off guard, he accidentally calls his wife by another woman’s name. This happens while he’s asking her to pass the milk from the fridge.

A Freudian slip brings the unconscious material to the surface.

So I mistakenly referred to an art cook instead of an art book.

Artcook.

Why did I say artcook? Will I become a chef?

No.

Could it be that I eat art?

I am afraid, I did.

No, I don’t have $120.000 to eat one banana.

But I used to work at the table for hours, and when I got up, I’d get up as if I were full.

Lately, this has increased. Every day, I get up early and sit at my desk pleasantly. It is like sitting down to eat a good meal.

How could art fill you up?

You feel this at the end of a loved exhibition, during a great chat, or when you do a fantastic job. It also happens when a good sentence captivates you.

It is as if your stomach is full.

Unless you have $120.000.