Banana Artwork Eaten Again at French Museum

At the Centre Pompidou-Metz museum in eastern France, a visitor has once again consumed Maurizio Cattelan's well-known piece of art, "Comedian," which is a banana taped to a wall.

The incident happened on July 12 during the museum’s 'Endless Sunday' exhibition. According to the museum, security acted quickly and the banana was replaced within minutes. The artwork was back on display shortly after.

The Italian artist, who is well-known for his daring and amusing pieces, remarked that he was sorry the guest hadn't eaten the banana peel and tape as well.Cattelan said the person mistook the fruit for the artwork itself and didn’t go far enough.

First displayed at Art Basel in Miami in 2019, “Comedian” has sparked global attention and has been eaten multiple times. It originally sold for up to \$150,000 and comes with a certificate of authenticity. The banana is meant to be replaced regularly, following the artist’s instructions.

This latest incident adds to a long list of banana eaters. David Datuna, a performance artist, ate the banana in front of an audience at Art Basel in 2019.  A student at Seoul's Leeum Museum followed suit in 2023. In 2024, collector Justin Sun bought the work for \$6.24 million—and then ate it himself.

Despite the repeated munching, museums aren’t worried. The Pompidou-Metz plans to keep displaying the work until the exhibition ends in 2027.

"Comedian" is intended to draw attention to the ridiculousness of art prices and the precarious structures that underlie the art market, the museum clarified.  It might be the most consumed piece of art in recent memory.