Unless you’ve recently relinquished your rock, you will have undoubtedly seen the banana, held up onto a wall with duct tape, that was created by Maurizio Cattelan. It sold for $6.2 million. It is literally a banana held up onto a wall with piece of duct tape. As the banana will eventually rot, the proud owner that paid the $6.2 million now has the authorization via ownership of a certificate of authenticity, to replace the banana at will. This is considered conceptual art. The new owner of this piece of conceptual art, is wealthy Chinese cryptocurrency businessman, Justin Sun. He proceeded to eat the banana soon after purchasing.

Apparently it wasn’t the first time the banana was eaten, the first time it was eaten by a museum visitor and whether it was a prank or sincere error, I have no idea, and it is not important enough for me to even consider searching for that information. But it does beg the question, did Justin Sun just pay for a mere copy of the original?

What is important to me, is to try and understand “concept art” and the desire to “own” a concept? Is that what Justin Sun purchased? Apparently, he purchased the rights to a certificate, which explains how to replace the banana approximately every 7 – 10 days. He purchased a concept that he could duct tape a banana to a wall and call it art. At the risk of upsetting those vastly more trained in art than I, I have yet to see a displayed piece of conceptual art that has inspired me to do anything but an eye-roll. I am ready for a lot of pushback from the art world here, but I call BS.

Full disclosure: I am a “boomer”. I resisted being part of anything or any group over my entire life, but apparently, this was not up to me. I am still a boomer. I have been met with disdain for being a boomer by younger counterparts. I never had disdain for generations before me or after me. I am adding this in case perhaps it is something elusive to our generation? I will concede that boomers are the largest generation born in the USA and that we were born in times of tremendous growth and prosperity. Is that a reason? I don’t think it’s for me to say. I will say that the education I received as being part of this generation was very linear – with only a minor sprinkling of art. Abc’s and 1,2,3’s, etc. was the basis of our education. Likely because our classrooms were larger, and learning needed to be condensed. Perhaps for this reason our eye/understanding for art is generationally challenged?

I have spent a good amount of time in various museums of art, and I find tremendous enjoyment in spending time viewing various artists both new and old, and various types of art. I like learning about the artists, reading even more about my favorites, Caravaggio, Dali, DaVinci, as well as much lesser known artists as well. I take delight in being able to spot a favorite artist’s work just from being familiar with their previous works. It is a feeling more than anything else, that wells up within, that says thank you for making this, allowing it to rest upon my eyes.

One of my favorite books as a child was “The Emperor’s New Clothes” a tale in which swindlers, posing as tailors, impress upon a vain emperor that they will make him the most prized, revered clothing to ever have been seen. They are well aware of his vain and pompous personality and easily convince him to purchase the new clothes. While this tale highlights the emperor’s vanity, as well as his weakness allowing for self-deception, the swindlers push even farther saying that “only the very wise” would be able “see” the new clothes and subsequently convincing even all of the emperor’s subjects that only the stupid would be unable to see their intricate and remarkable work. In fear of being called stupid, everyone cheers as the emperor parades naked before them. The ending is a wonderful tale for the ages, and also a reminder that sometimes it is good to rely upon our own basic common senses.

When I see the duct-taped banana, I am reminded of this tale. Is that the concept? Or perhaps it is the concept of money (and perhaps that is elusive to Justin Sun) – after all, his cryptocurrency wealth is tantamount to the financial version of a duct-taped banana. Add to this that if his worth is indeed a billion times the value of the banana, then he has likely spent the average person’s equivalent of pennies on this art, whereas you or I would likely not accumulate the money he spent on said banana in a lifetime. Curious, isn’t it? Is that the concept? Waste? Justin wastes money while the banana wastes upon a wall?

Couldn’t there be an easier way to convey that concept? (Did I just miss the point?) If I tape a celery stalk upon a wall, is it art? Art forgery? What was the artist attempting to convey, if anything at all? Admittedly, I am neither an artist nor an art expert but I just cannot see the intent of the concept. I also won’t be cheering concept art anytime soon, Justin’s, or others – it seems rather a naked idea to me. If I am wrong, please educate me, I am unable to see the concept, but I am quite willing to learn.