via Damien HirstArt & Photography / NewsArt & Photography / NewsDamien Hirst tries to buy Maurizio Cattelan’s banana, told no, makes oneNo one puts Damien in the cornerShareLink copied ✔️August 21, 2020August 21, 2020TextAshleigh Kane When Mauritzio Cattelan duct-taped a banana (officially titled “Comedian”) to a wall last year at Art Basel Miami, the world went into a spin. But, it appears, none more than fellow artist Damien Hirst who says he actually tried to purchase one of the work’s $120,000 editions (one of which had already been eaten by a performance artist) only to be told a stern no. “I was desperate to buy this artwork from Maurizio Cattelan, called ‘Comedian’, because I love it so much,” Hirst wrote on his Instagram. “I asked my friend and curator Francesco Bonami to ask Maurizio if he had an A.P. he could sell me or if he would make me a special one? I offered to swap it for anything of mine? But sadly he said no! Wahhhh!” However, given the total lack of artistic skills involved in duct-taping a banana to a wall, Bonami simply made one himself and gifted it to Hirst. “This is it now on my wall and I love it, he said the banana has to point the opposite way,” Hirst advised. “Thanks Francesco and thanks for trying! Maybe I should call you Francesco Bananami from now on!?” When pressed by a follower why he loves the artwork so much, Hirst replied: “Because after everything we’ve seen in art it’s still shocking and upsetting and it makes me laugh.” Hirst promises to switch in a new banana each week, as per Catellan’s instructions for the artwork, and eat the old one. Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MORECandid photos capture life inside a women’s prison in MexicoLife lessons from the legendary photographer Larry Sultan GucciEsDeeKid, Fakemink and more shut down Gucci’s AW26 afterpartyThese intimate photos show the multiplicity of ‘Dykes’The most loved photo stories from February 2026fakemink: ‘I’m the Eminem of the UK underground’The best art and photography shows to see in March 2026The dA-Zed guide to Tracey EminThese photos document love and loss in times of political crisisThis film explores how two shootings defined the student protest movementThese photos explore the internet’s supernatural depthsBACARDÍIn pictures: Manchester’s electrifying, multigenerational party spiritEscape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy