Can an artist take an ordinary banana and duct tape and make these ordinary objects into art? Well, according to Maurizio Cattelan- who presented Comedian, at the 2019 Art Basel, Miami, FL- it  is.  Is Cattelan  saying, "joke's on you!" It  wouldn't be far fetch  from his usually works. Is this another  commentary on our art culture at large?   Is it  a celebration and homage to Marcel Duchamp, the godfather of Conceptual art?  

For one thing it made  the news and  became a  worldwide meme due to social  media. I think  the greatest consequence that came out of this sensational artwork is that it promoted dialogue. 

So what are we  seeing? A ripe banana.  Something we regularly consume without much thought.  In  a slapdash kinda way shiny duct tape was used to  stick  it on the  whitewashed   wall.   At  least  it make more of a statement then scotch tape. How  about the title, Comedian.   It brings to mind  old slapstick  jokes from my childhood. You know the  one  when a banana peel is thrown on  the floor waiting for a hapless guy to slip and  fall.   Last but not least, in research by Maha Al-Saray, it's said that bananas contain a chemical (Tryptophan) that can promote laughter and the feeling of happiness. Comedian did make me laugh.  

So,  is this artwork "great?"  Only time can tell.  But is it interesting? I think so. It kept my mind working  for a bit and perhaps  that was Cattelan's ultimate intention.  Now  I think I'm going to  eat a  banana. Need  more laughter in  the  world.