S’pore Durian Store Selling ‘Durian Tape To White Wall’ For $163,056 In Epic Parody

Look. Don’t let my colleagues fool you into thinking that art isn’t subjective and that a banana taped to the wall is just a banana.

In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’m talking about this piece of art that sold for USD$120,000 (~S$163,000).

But… that’s a regular banana taped to the wall.

No, you don’t understand. A banana is “many things – a symbol of global trade, a witty double entendre, and a classic device for humour.”

In the creation of a piece of art, especially in recreating reality, or realism, artists need to represent subject matter truthfully, without artificiality and avoiding artistic conventions, or implausible, exotic, and supernatural elements.

…did you just… copy that shit from Wikipedia?

No, I definitely didn’t. You can say that the ultimate goal of realism is to recreate reality, and not to simply create something that looks like reality. Thus, rather than simply sculpting a banana or drawing one, it makes a lot of sense to actually just attach a banana.

Uh…okay…?

And the guy who ate the banana is also an artistic genius.

He said before that “Physically it was banana but banana is just a tool.”

So it is just a banana!

No, nono. You see, a banana is meant to be eaten. In realism, a recreated banana cannot be eaten, and by all means and purposes cannot be considered a banana even if it looks like a banana.

There is a very important distinction there. By putting on the “Hungry Man” performance, he now proves that this is the ultimate form of realism, by showing that the recreated banana is indeed a banana.

Okay… so you’re saying, when he shits that thing out, it will be worth even more since it now proves it is a banana, but it also has nutrients?

Yes! I’m glad you finally see what I see.

Geniuses At 99 Old Trees Parodied The Art

99 Old Trees, a cafe-like outlet selling Durians and desserts installed the following art, proving that they not only make fantastic durian sellers, but are also artists:

It was posted on their Facebook page with the caption:

“Durian Tape to White Wall. $163,056

Looks like Art, Smells like Fart.

A durian bondage art as a reminder of our forefathers’ past struggles. The duct tape signifies the oppression of our colonial past.

Very meaningful art.

$163,056 GST we absorb.

Don’t say we buay steady. Buy before GST increase.

Include duct tape and Pahang MSW 2.15kg (will rot in 3 days)

Wall not included.

DM us if interested.”

At the price of S$163,056, this is actually lower than the US$120,000 depending on exchange rate. Furthermore, 99 Old Trees made sure to say that GST is absorbed.

I believe this is an allegory to S’pore, where we are influenced by the exchange rates, and kiasu culture, with the emphasis on price.

It is to be noted that they also emphasised that the durian is very “atas”, and comes from the Highlands in Raub.

The kicker here is that the wall isn’t included in the deal, though on negotiation, it appears that they would be willing to add the wall for an additional S$50.

Some also pointed out the utilitarian aspect of the art, that the duct tape also symbolised strength and resilience that it’s able to hold the durian.

But it would appear that they are unwilling for a “Hungry Man” performance to happen for their parody alternate interpretation.

Now, before I continue thinking about how to smear some Nasi Lemak Sambal on my air conditioner for one year, I have to ask a question:

Since they replaced the banana in the gallery, if someone actually bought this art from 99 Old Trees, are they legally obligated to replace the durian every single time it runs out?

If so, that’s unlimited durians for S$160k. Deal of the year right there.