‘Camp, did you hear about the 25cent banana taped to a wall with duct tape that was auctioned off by Sotheby’s in Manhattan as absurdist art? The bid was won by Justin Sun, a crypto entrepreneur, for 5.2 million US dollars plus more than one million in auction-house fees.’
‘You’re kidding, right? A banana? Duct taped?’
‘Yes, and this is not the first time Mr. Cattelan exhibited and sold a banana, bought a at a local fruit-stand and taped to a wall at an art exhibit.’
Camp just shook his head. ‘And I have trouble selling books for a few dollars which took years to write and produce.
‘Clare recently went to a Paint Party hosted at the Legion and attended by a score of amateurs. The class included paint, brushes, a canvass and they followed an instructional video by Bob Ross, all for $ 38. She came home with a painting of a woodland theme, proud as a peacock.’
‘Is it art?’
‘It was fun and she learned about painting.’
‘A painting by Emily Carr from 1912 that was hanging in a barn in the Hamptons and sold for $ 50 and then fetched $ 350’000 at a recent auction in Toronto. Now that is a rare piece of genuine art with a good story and a history.’
‘What is the definition of art or is there a consensus of what art is?’ I asked Camp, sure that he would be offering an opinion.
‘Here is a definition by Merriam Webster: Art is the conscious use of a skill and creative imagination in the production of aesthetic objects.’
‘Why is a banana taped to a wall considered art? It doesn’t meet any of these criteria and yet somebody paid five million bucks for it just to eat it for breakfast.’
‘Beats me,’ Camp said. ‘In my opinion art has to inspire. It has to induce a feeling either of joy or controversy; reactions of wonderment or distaste or spurn on a controversy. It can be spontaneous like graffiti or live for centuries like a sculpture or a painting. Take the Lascaux’s prehistoric cave paintings in the Dordogne, France that have been there for 20’000 years or the more recent sculpture of the Gates of Hell by Rodin at the Kunsthaus in Zürich. Both fantastic to behold and yet so different.’
‘What about dance or acting. Is that art?’
‘Of course. Ballet is an artistic interpretation of stories and fables, as are modern and contemporary dances. Music is art, and so is acting.’
‘What about bad or good art, is there such a thing?’
Camp had to think about that one. ‘I believe it’s up to the beholder or consumer to be the judge of that. Some art like Michelangelo’s David is good art because it is beloved by all as are many paintings and ballets. But a 5million-dollar banana that rots in two days?’
‘How about two empty glasses of beer on a glass table in front of a scenic harbour view? Could that be an art installation?’
When Vicky brought about two full foaming mugs of golden liquid, we both agreed that they were pleasing to the eye and inspired pleasure, leisure and comfort.
‘Did you know that a banana taped to a wall is considered art and has just sold for millions of dollars?’ I asked Vicky.
‘Why do I get the feeling you want to sell me something?’
‘We’re not selling. We’re buying. Liquid art in a glass.’
‘You two are totally bananas,’ she said, shaking her head.
Bruno's point of view 