“The Comedian” can’t stay on the wall for long, this time falling victim to a hungry visitor at Centre Pompidou-Metz.
It was only a matter of time before someone took another bite. Maurizio Cattelan’s viral artwork The Comedian—a single banana duct-taped to a wall—has once again been devoured, this time during the Endless Sunday exhibition at the Centre Pompidou-Metz in eastern France.
The banana-snacking incident took place over the weekend, with security stepping in quickly. Within minutes, the fruit was replaced, as per the artwork’s instructions, and the show went on without missing a beat.
In true Cattelan fashion, the Italian artist responded with humor, joking that he was “disappointed the banana muncher didn’t also eat the skin and tape.” According to him, the visitor “confused the fruit for the artwork and didn’t go far enough.”
A Banana Worth $150,000
Since its debut at Art Basel Miami in 2019, The Comedian has been equal parts punchline and cultural commentary. Originally selling for up to $150,000 USD (with a certificate of authenticity), the artwork has gained global fame thanks to repeated acts of “consumption.” In 2019, artist David Datuna famously ate the original banana in Miami, while a student at Seoul’s Leeum Museum followed suit in 2023.
The Joke That Keeps Going
Despite the spectacle, institutions housing The Comedian remain unbothered—largely because the piece is designed to be replaced. The banana isn’t the art itself but rather a stand-in, supported by documentation and concept. The Centre Pompidou-Metz has confirmed that the work will continue to “hang” until the exhibition closes in 2027, no matter how many bananas go missing.
