This Isn’t Art, It’s Bullsh*t: How Maurizio Cattelan’s The Comedian Spits in the Face of Real Artists

In 2019, Maurizio Cattelan shocked the art world with The Comedian, a conceptual piece consisting of a banana duct-taped to a wall, which sold for $120,000 at Art Basel. It was heralded by some as an audacious statement about consumerism and the absurdity of the art market. But to others—especially traditional artists who dedicate years honing their craft—it was an insult.

The question of what constitutes art has long been debated, but The Comedian represents a troubling trend: the commodification of artistic irreverence at the expense of genuine creativity. In a world where immensely skilled artists struggle to find recognition or financial stability, the elevation of such a piece diminishes the value of their labor, dedication, and vision.

Art as Skill and Expression

Art, at its core, is a union of skill and emotional resonance. From Michelangelo’s intricate frescoes in the Sistine Chapel to MC Escher's mathematical tessellations, artists have historically married technique with meaning to create something transcendent. Traditional art requires discipline—hours upon hours spent mastering perspective, composition, anatomy or color theory.

Cattelan’s The Comedian required none of these things. A banana taped to a wall is not a demonstration of skill, technique or even profound thought. It could have been conceived by anyone. And yet, because it was done by Cattelan—a notorious provocateur—it was praised as brilliant.

Mocking the Art Community

If Cattelan’s goal was to mock the art world, then he succeeded. But at what cost? His piece laid bare the worst excesses of the contemporary art market: its focus on spectacle over substance, its preference for provocation over profundity. For the countless artists who labor without recognition, The Comedian is a slap in the face, a reminder that shock value trumps mastery.

Traditional artists are told to “just keep working” or “find their niche,” yet when someone duct-tapes a banana to a wall and calls it art, they are rewarded with headlines, millions of dollars and global fame. What message does this send to young artists about the value of their craft?

Undermining Public Perception of Art

Pieces like The Comedian also harm the public’s perception of art. They reinforce the stereotype that modern art is pretentious, inaccessible or outright nonsensical. This is dangerous in an era where art education is increasingly underfunded and undervalued. When the average person sees a banana selling for six figures, it’s no wonder they question the legitimacy of the entire field.

But art is more than a gag. It is a reflection of the human condition, a means of connection and expression. Traditional artists, whether working with oil paints, charcoal or clay, remind us of this with their meticulous, meaningful work.

Real Artists Deserve Better

If the art community wishes to remain relevant and respected, it must celebrate those who contribute genuine artistry—not just controversy. There is room for conceptual art, but not at the expense of traditional forms. Artists who pour their heart and soul into their work deserve recognition and support, not to be overshadowed by a stunt that took all of five minutes to create.

Cattelan’s banana may have made headlines, but it is the timeless work of painters, sculptors, and illustrators that will endure. We must not forget this as we navigate an art world increasingly preoccupied with spectacle.

The next time we see a banana taped to a wall, let’s not call it art. Let’s call it what it really is: a distraction from the true masters who deserve our attention and respect.