Performance art is always difficult to appraise, as there is generally no tangible objet d'art only the performance. The public performance pieces where everyone freezes for 5 minutes or spontaneaously burst into a musical in a food court are but a few examples.
This fellow places a banana in a gallery window and replaces it daily for 21 days. I guess the buyer may receive the bananas if he or she desires, but is more likely to receive a book describing the project. As a artistic statement about the willingness for people to buy anything or the value placed on an experience instead of results, I can understand the artistic merit. But t's not something that I would buy.
Quote:
A passerby walking along Granville Street in Halifax might now have reason to think so. Because in the window at Gallery Page and Strange sits a humble banana.
At first glance, it appears to be a forgotten part of someone's lunch. Perhaps set aside because it's still a bit green and not really ready to eat. But on closer look the passerby will notice a tag alongside the piece of fruit. The artist is identified as Michael Fernandes. The work is called Banana. The price is $2,500.
And there's a blue sticker, indicating that a buyer has put a hold on this work.
The buyer should not be expecting a superlative piece of fruit in return for $2,500. The bananas Fernandes is using for the display are ordinary, purchased from local supermarkets. Indeed, most days the artist eats the banana he has replaced. Instead, the buyer will be paying for the concept and will receive photos documenting the project. The buyer may also get press clippings or credit as patron if the project is staged again.
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globeandmail.com: One banana: $2,500
07-05-2008, 07:58 AM
