It’s a banana bonanza! Stars have taken to social media to spoof the pricey art installation that originated at Galerie Perrotin’s booth at Art Basel Miami Beach earlier this month.
The creation, which is nothing more than a ripe banana fastened to a wall with a single strip of silver duct tape, caused quite a commotion on social media when it was unveiled last week. In fact, interest in the piece (titled Comedian,) reached fever pitch on Saturday, December 7, when a performance artist named David Datuna, who was in no way affiliated with the work, ate the celebrated fruit.
Additionally, many people were shocked to learn that two editions of Comedian, which was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, sold for more than $120,000 before a third version of the piece boasted a $150,000 price tag.
One expensive iteration was reportedly snapped up by billionaires Billy and Beatrice Cox, who now have a certificate of art for the work, since it will eventually rot and decompose.
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest spoofed Comedian during the episode of Live With Kelly and Ryan that aired on Tuesday, December 10. The hosts named their take on the artwork “Art Bagel.” As the new work’s name suggests, it’s a bagel taped to a wall instead of a piece of fruit.
When Seacrest, 44, unveiled the fastened everything bagel during Tuesday’s show, the New York-centric creation was met with a mixture of laughter and applause. He and Ripa, 49, then explained that they were going to auction off their take on the art craze and donate all of the proceeds to The Ryan Seacrest Foundation, which aims to build broadcast media centers within pediatric hospitals.
Actress Busy Philipps, on the other hand, took a decidedly different approach to the banana art fad. She instead opted to tape a banana to a wall in her home next to two elves on shelf, who were also restrained. Her version of Comedian was intended for her daughters, Birdie, 11, and 6-year-old Cricket to find.
“Had to explain this,” the Cougar Town alum, 40, quipped on Instagram, implying her youngsters didn’t quite get the gag.
Per The New York Times, Comedian was removed from Art Basel Miami on Sunday, December 8, because the crowds forming around it had begun to pose a “serious health and safety risk,” but that didn’t stop even more stars from getting in on the fun. Scroll down for additional celebrity versions of Art Basel Miami’s most memorable installation of 2019!
