Maurizio Cattelan

And so the market's been sort of in a downturn for the last couple of years. And the auction houses who are market makers were probably behind doors, were probably in a little bit of a panic of just like, how do we change this narrative?

And so the market's been sort of in a downturn for the last couple of years. And the auction houses who are market makers were probably behind doors, were probably in a little bit of a panic of just like, how do we change this narrative?

And so the market's been sort of in a downturn for the last couple of years. And the auction houses who are market makers were probably behind doors, were probably in a little bit of a panic of just like, how do we change this narrative?

How do we make the idea of buying and selling art fun again? Because this is meant to be kind of a respite for the world's wealthy, right? So I feel like it was really a marketing bonanza and sort of a stroke of genius on Sotheby's part to go out and seek this banana because they knew that it would change the narrative, or at least they think they hoped it did.

How do we make the idea of buying and selling art fun again? Because this is meant to be kind of a respite for the world's wealthy, right? So I feel like it was really a marketing bonanza and sort of a stroke of genius on Sotheby's part to go out and seek this banana because they knew that it would change the narrative, or at least they think they hoped it did.

How do we make the idea of buying and selling art fun again? Because this is meant to be kind of a respite for the world's wealthy, right? So I feel like it was really a marketing bonanza and sort of a stroke of genius on Sotheby's part to go out and seek this banana because they knew that it would change the narrative, or at least they think they hoped it did.

I mean, it was completely unforgettable.

I mean, it was completely unforgettable.

I mean, it was completely unforgettable.

It was bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S. Absolutely.

It was bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S. Absolutely.

It was bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S. Absolutely.

Exactly. I've been humming that for days. So when I walked into the auction room, the anticipation was building, but people didn't have to wait too long. And the artworks kind of come out on this thing, like sort of the turntable sort of swiveled, right?

Exactly. I've been humming that for days. So when I walked into the auction room, the anticipation was building, but people didn't have to wait too long. And the artworks kind of come out on this thing, like sort of the turntable sort of swiveled, right?

Exactly. I've been humming that for days. So when I walked into the auction room, the anticipation was building, but people didn't have to wait too long. And the artworks kind of come out on this thing, like sort of the turntable sort of swiveled, right?

And then out came this banana taped to the wall with one, you know, very tickled art handler standing there like Vanna White, you know, beside this banana.

And then out came this banana taped to the wall with one, you know, very tickled art handler standing there like Vanna White, you know, beside this banana.

And then out came this banana taped to the wall with one, you know, very tickled art handler standing there like Vanna White, you know, beside this banana.

And the scene was so ridiculous. Everyone's cell phones went up. It was like whoosh, this vertical whoosh of, I mean, cynical art dealers, folks who've been buying and selling art for decades. None of them could resist the urge to snap a little picture of that thing on the turntable.

And the scene was so ridiculous. Everyone's cell phones went up. It was like whoosh, this vertical whoosh of, I mean, cynical art dealers, folks who've been buying and selling art for decades. None of them could resist the urge to snap a little picture of that thing on the turntable.