Student eats Maurizio Cattelan’s $120,000 banana artwork for breakfast

It’s a collision of artistic perspectives over at the Leeum Museum of Art where Noh Huyn-soo, a Seoul-based art student, has eaten a $120,000 artwork by Maurizio Cattelan as a form of art. Noh was filmed removing Cattelan’s duct-taped banana from the wall, eating it and reattaching it to the wall, later telling the broadcaster KBS that damaging a work of modern art could also be seen as artwork. Noh apparently skipped breakfast that day and later told this to the Leeum Museum of Art, the Korea Herald reports.

It appears that Leeum Museum of Art will be taking no further action against Noh. Cattelan is also reported to have responded to the incident saying: “No problem”.

Comedian – Cattelan’s controversial and high-fibre artwork – made its first debut in 2019 where it appeared at Art Basel Miami Beach with a price tag of $120,000 to $150,000. The artwork was also eaten then by the artist David Datuna who said the act itself was a work of performance art, calling it Hungry Artist.

Cattelan’s artwork exploded across the internet on its debut in 2019. While some appreciated the work as a critique of the art world others have also pointed out the decision to place such a high price point on food. Comedian is being exhibited at Leeum in its original form taped on the wall with duct tape; the banana is replaced every few days.