A visitor at France's Pompidou-Metz ate a banana from Maurizio Cattelan's conceptual artwork "Comedian" (2019), which consists of a banana duct-taped to a wall. Security staff intervened calmly, and the work was reinstalled within minutes, as the fruit is regularly replaced per the artist's instructions. The incident occurred during the exhibition "The Endless Sunday," celebrating the museum's 15th anniversary, which features 30 works by Cattelan alongside over 400 others from the Musée National d'Art Moderne.
This latest banana-eating episode underscores the enduring notoriety and cultural impact of Cattelan's piece, which has sparked debate about the nature of art and value since its debut at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019. The work's editions have sold for escalating prices, including a $6.24 million sale at Sotheby's in November 2024, highlighting the intersection of conceptual art, market speculation, and viral moments. The incident also reflects a pattern of performative consumption, with previous eaters including performance artist David Datuna and a Seoul art student, further cementing "Comedian" as a touchstone for discussions on art, absurdity, and audience interaction.