If you were to think of an extravagant meal, you might envision a fancy three-star Michelin restaurant or a perfectly cooked slice of Wagyu beef accompanied by some Beluga caviar in a high-end eatery in Dubai.
However, a South Korean student recently consumed a banana that could be considered one of the most expensive food items he has ever had.
Noh Huyn-soo, an art major at Seoul National University, ate a banana that was part of an exhibit by Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan.
The exhibit, called “WE,” featured Cattelan’s artwork titled “Comedian,” which showcased a ripe banana duct-taped to a wall at the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul. The student apparently removed the banana, peeled it, and unapologetically ate it.
Afterward, he used the duct tape to reattach the banana peel back onto the wall. When questioned by the museum about his actions, he explained that he was hungry because he had missed breakfast.
Despite the student’s impulsive act of consuming the banana, the museum replaced it with a new one, as per Cattelan’s instructions, which requires the fruit to be changed every three days. The museum also announced that it would not seek compensation from the student, much to Noh’s relief.
When asked to comment on his actions, a local broadcaster interviewed Noh, who argued that his behavior could also be viewed as a form of art.
He explained that he interpreted Cattelan’s artwork as an act of rebellion against authority.
“There could be another rebellion against the rebellion,” he said. “Damaging an artwork could also be seen as an artwork, I thought that would be interesting… Isn’t it taped there to be eaten?”
When told about the incident, Cattelan responded: “No problem at all”.
