I've talked about this before, but here's some discussion on a banana duct-taped to a wall (and sold for or to sell for 120,000$?). This article is interesting, though it seems to travel  into "I hate Banksy" territory for no real reason [1]. Nevertheless, it seems to speak of a handful of issues surrounding the banana, but little about the art market itself (And because it doesn't mention this powerful force itself, it's kinda useless). 

So first, anytime a banana is duct taped to a wall and can go for 120k, then you know it's more than a statement about the banana itself and rather the price. In a world where 120k is more than the vast majority, no matter how much they work, and no matter how much social good they do, will ever earn in a year, this is a statement about those who would spend money on it. 

Money laundering? Possibly. 

But also decadence in the sense that the super rich want a way to let us know they will pay for nothing just to pay for it (while also fighting with all they have to stop taxes on them from raising one cent,  the republic and humankind be damned). That is the statement I see when I see a banana taped to a wall. 

Now, does this mean that the artist took this into account? I'm not sure. I'm not even sure it matters. The banana merely means this is the world you live in. Our world. As the super rich wish to make it. 

[1] This seems to be the purview of the Times and art critics who are a part of the art system. Mainly that Banksy's line that it's all a con, seems to hit too close to home for them and thus they have to fight back. None of their arguments seem worthwhile, tbf.

Enjoyed it? Share it via email, facebook, twitter, or one of the buttons below (or through some other method you prefer). Thank you! As always, here's the tip jar. paypal.me/nlowhim Throw some change in there & help cover the costs of running this thing. You can use paypal or a credit card.