A provocative banana artwork by Danish artist Thyra Hilden that resembles female genitalia has sold for $12,869 at the Enter Art Fair in Copenhagen, sparking conversations about gender equality in the contemporary art world. The piece was deliberately priced at a fraction of its famous male counterpart to challenge existing norms and highlight disparities in how male and female artists' works are valued.
Hilden's artwork draws direct comparison to Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan's controversial "Comedian" – a banana duct-taped to a wall that initially sold for $120,000 at Art Basel in 2019. The same piece later achieved an astonishing $6.24 million at Sotheby's auction house in 2024, demonstrating the enormous market value that can be attached to conceptual art by established male artists.
In a calculated move to highlight gender inequities in the art market, Hilden strategically set her artwork's price at exactly 10% of Cattelan's original sale price. This pricing decision serves as both an artistic statement and a pointed commentary on how the art world often undervalues work by female artists compared to their male peers.
Anders Andersen, the collector who purchased Hilden's piece, has announced plans to replace the banana daily, adding his own interpretive layer to the artwork's ongoing commentary on art, value, and gender dynamics. "The price might sound ridiculous, but I hope the real value will come from what the female artist wishes to express through the work," Andersen explained, emphasizing his belief in the deeper message behind the piece.
The Enter Art Fair, recognized as Scandinavia's largest international art event, continues to provide a platform for these thought-provoking discussions about art valuation and market dynamics. The fair has become known for presenting works that challenge conventional thinking while maintaining an element of humor and accessibility that engages both serious collectors and casual art enthusiasts in meaningful dialogue about contemporary artistic expression.
