R.G. Loc: Scotland

Or perhaps its daring approach to obscurity. If you can do it convincingly enough it's amazing how often you'll get away with it (hence the reference to people with more money than sense). Perhaps the emperor's new clothes have something to do with it.

It's been observed elsewhere that a title can influence how a picture is perceived. Perhaps hanging a picture in a gallery has the same effect by implying a certain amount of significance and importance. I imagine that sticking a hefty price tag on something also has the same effect, either consciously or subliminally.

Peterfiore Loc: Where DR goes south

Perhaps? The question is, how do you think that photograph got the chance to hang in that gallery? Do you think that that photo was the first work that Artist every made?

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I agree that the artist needs a certain amount of credibility before he/she can pull it off. That is very often the difference between success and failure. If a complete unknown tried to present a painting or picture of a can of soup as high art, how far would he get? On the other hand, how far would a picture like that get on its own merits? There are many so-called works of art that are achieving prominence not because of their own merits but because of a transferred halo effect.

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

The banana is basically an attempt to do something similar to Duchamp with his Fountain. It's rather boring and cliche, yet everyone continues to talk about it both inside and outside of the art world

Also, it wasn't a random guy. It was a performance artist.

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

Yes. The context of the gallery influences perception of artwork. It is a setting that comes with certain expectations, attitudes, notions and norms

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Or somebody with expensive tastes?

manattee scrubber Loc: Inverness, FL

You can have any opinion you want and rationalize any way you want, but for me this photo is " The Kings New Suit of Clothes"

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

Good one.

It really was a performance artist. Apparently he was really hungry.

https://www.npr.org/2019/12/09/786204998/performance-artist-eats-banana-which-was-part-of-exhibit

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Looks Rothko-esque to me.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Hopefully the creator of that work of art will have learned his lesson. Hopefully next time he'll use gaffer tape instead of duct tape .

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

Eventually the work will go to a museum where the banana will be replaced every so often. Extremely wasteful.

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/usd120-000-banana-edition-will-be-donated-to-a-museum

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/maurizio-cattelan-banana-collector-1728009

R.G. Loc: Scotland

If it's next door to a zoo it'll be the perfect venue .

Peterfiore Loc: Where DR goes south

Actually not all that new...1999 was it's introduction to the art world. Rhine II has been discussed over and over since it's birth. Always gets the comment " I could have done that"......yeah!

fetzler Loc: North West PA

Art is very complex with regard to pricing and fame of the artist. Artists usually become famous through marketing and talent. Famous artist's also become famous by pushing the the envelope in some way. Impressionists abandoned hyper realism and exploited the use of blue pigments not available before their time. In the case of van Gogh, he was terrible a marketing but his sister-in law was not. She made him famous. An Artists paintings generally become more valuable after they are dead as no more can be made. So rarity is a factor.

Photographs generally have a lower value than paintings as many copies may exist. Prints made by the photographer are more valuable. I know someone who sold a Man Ray ( the print was made by Man Ray) for $350,000. It is possible to get recent copies, however. The photographer in question here is very famous AND only 6 prints were made.

As for the banana, I don't think this was really the price unless it was for the publicity and not the art. The banana will rot in a short time. B&W photos are generally more valuable than color photos as they are more permanent. Giclee prints have good longevity.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Obviously you have never seen one of Gursky's photographs in person. I saw another one of his photos in person, and the large scale is only part of it. The amount of detail is incredible. Of course you can still argue the valuation, but after all the value of anything is how much someone is willing to pay for it. But seeing Gursky's work in person it makes a lot more sense.