The installation "Comedian" by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan has disappeared for the second time from the Centre Pompidou-Metz in France, one of the most famous works of contemporary art. Although the banana itself has already been replaced, the police have launched an investigation into the theft.
From the French museum Centre Pompidou-Metz, the art object "Comedian" by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan — a banana taped to the wall — has disappeared again. The installation, valued at €5.8 million, has been stolen for the second time.
This was reported by Euronews.
The disappearance was noticed by a security service employee on Sunday. The museum confirmed the loss of the exhibit and stated that the banana has already been replaced. Such a replacement is a standard procedure, as the fruit is regularly updated every three days to maintain the "fresh" appearance of the work.
Despite this, the museum administration decided to contact the police. According to them, the identity of the thief has not been established, making dialogue impossible. The institution also noted that similar incidents have occurred in the past and are regarded as a sign of disrespect towards the artwork.
Since its debut at the Art Basel fair in Miami Beach in 2019, the installation "Comedian" has repeatedly become a subject of controversy and discussion. Visitors have often removed the banana from the wall or eaten it, which only heightened interest in the work and turned such incidents into part of its history.
The peculiarity of the work lies in the fact that its artistic value is not related to the fruit itself, but to the certificate of authenticity and the official display instructions. Owners of the work have the right to reproduce the installation by placing the banana at a height of 1.72 meters at a 37-degree angle and regularly replacing it with a new one.
Currently, the French police continue their investigation. No information about possible suspects has been received so far.
The story of "Comedian" once again shows that contemporary art can provoke not only lively discussions but also quite unusual crimes. However, even the disappearance of the banana itself does not mean the loss of the artwork — according to the author's concept, the value of the work remains unchanged.
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