MAURIZIO CATTELAN COMEDIAN (2019) Maurizio Cattelan is an Italian artist who is known for his (often) outlandish works that challenge the limits of contemporary value systems. WHO IS MAURIZIO CATTELAN? Cattelan was born in Padua, Italy in on September 21, 1960, in Padua, Italy. He started his art career in the early 1980s by designing and producing wooden furniture in Forli, Italy. However, he had no formal training in art. According to Cattelan, “making shows” has been his “art school”. Cattelan is currently one of the most controversial figures in art. He belives that the playful and provocative use of materials, objects, and gestures set in challenging contexts forces commentary and engagement. LA NONA ORA (THE NINTH HOUR) La Nona Ora This artwork from 1999 catapulted Cattelan to international notoriety. It showed the then Pope John Paul II lying on the ground after being struck by a meteorite. There have been multiple interpretations of this artwork: A few believed it was a commentary on Catholic Church’s reputation for harbouring scandal beneath its moral surface.. Others stated that it suggests that even the most established seats of power can become vulnerable. AMERICA For a year, from 2016 to 2017, Cattelan replaced the toilet at the Guggenheim Museum in New York with a fully functional replica in 18-karat gold. Moreover, this was America made accessible to the general public. Viewers were invited to use this fixture privately and individually. An action that he called “an unprecedented intimacy with a work of art”. A few interpretations include: A commentary on the excesses of modern art. It shows the futility of the American dream. and in turn, reminds us of the inescapable physical realities of our shared humanity. COMEDIAN Like it or not, this is one of the most talked about artworks in the world. It is a fresh banana duct-taped to a wall. Two editions of this artwork were sold for $120,000 each. The buyers received a certificate of authenticity along with instructions on how to install it. This artwork has been the subject of memes and ridicule. It is supposed to evoke everything from slapstick comedy of somebody slipping on a banana peel to the fruit’s position as a symbol of global trade. During an exhibition in Seoul it reminded a student of breakfast and he ended up eating it. Comedian WHY IS CATTELAN REVELANT? According to art critics, Cattelan often pushes the fine line between “conceptual art and bullsh*t”. I believe that today’s outrage is tomorrow’s masterpiece, a fact that rings true in the case of Andy Warhol. His works often evoke cultural and social dialogue on the excesses of modern capitalistic living. HOW IS THIS APPLICABLE TO JOURNALISM? Embrace unconventionality. Craft a personal brand as a journalist and create a unique persona for your body of work. Adapt to the ever-changing landscapes and mediums. Stay persistent and be willing to hustle. Understand that attention is a powerful currency in the world of journalism. FIN. WHAT IS YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THE COMEDIAN?
