Maurizio Cattelan's Comedian is back in the news again. The artwork – a banana taped to a wall that sold for $120,000 (Dh440,700) at an art fair last year – is now part of the Guggenheim Museum's collection after the institution accepted it from an anonymous donor.
Comedian caught the attention of the art world during Art Basel Miami Beach last December, where two iterations sold for $120,000 each and a third for $150,000. It generated a slew of internet memes and angry tweets from people who were baffled by its price tag.
The hefty sum is not actually for the fruit. Instead, it is for the certificate of authenticity for the work and 14-page list of instructions on how to install and display it, both of which were included in the donation to the Guggenheim.
"We are grateful recipients of the gift of Comedian, a further demonstration of the artist's deft connection to the history of modern art," Richard Armstrong, the museum's director, said to The New York Times. "Beyond which, it offers little stress to our storage."
Instructions on showcasing the banana stipulate that it must be angled at 37 degrees and taped 175 centimetres above the ground. The fruit must also be changed every seven to 10 days. The museum has not announced when it intends to display the work.
Cattelan, who is Italian, has produced little over the past few years, though the banana taped to a wall builds on his signature satirical style. In 2016, he unveiled his work America, an 18-carat solid gold toilet installed inside the Guggenheim's bathrooms.
When Comedian went up at the Perrotin Gallery's booth last year, Sarah Andelman, founder of high fashion retailer Colette, bought the first version. "It really reflects our time," she said. "The absurdity of everything."
Despite the criticism that came after its sale, the work managed to maintain its allure, with artist Damien Hirst expressing his desire to acquire it last month. He was even willing to trade any of his artworks for it or an artist's proof. In the end, Hirst had to settle for an altered version of the piece, made not by Cattelan, but by curator Francesco Bonami.
One reason for the demand is that Cattelan's works are rarely offered at art fairs. The last time they were was more than 15 years ago.
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
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West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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Tips for job-seekers
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David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
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Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
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15 years, 235 days old
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15 years, 271 days old
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16 years, 30 days old
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16 years, 68 days old
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
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'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
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Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The%20specs
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Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2018 Renault Megane
Price, base / as tested Dh52,900 / Dh59,200
Engine 1.6L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission Continuously variable transmission
Power 115hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 156Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.6L / 100km
