In the world of contemporary art, Maurizio Cattelan, goes back to be one of the most talked about. The Italian provocateur artist, famous for surprising and scandalize its public, is now coming back to the scene after having sold a $6 million banana.
His latest work is an 18-carat gold toilet called “America,” that will be auctioned in Sotheby’s this November in New York. The piece weights more than 223 pounds and it completely functional. But the most interesting part is that it looks like the “twin” of the one toilet that was stolen from the 2019 robbery in the Blenheim Palace, which was actually never found…
This somehow ridiculous contrast between everyday plumbing and a luxury sculpture raises questions about value, status, taste, power, museums, privilege, excess, hypocrisy, and how fast headlines can transform alleged jokes into important historical pieces that are shared across countries.
This new versions, could break the personal art record fro the artist, who reached 17.2 million dollars with his work Him (2001).
The golden toilet that made history
The piece “America” is not only a very shiny object; is and golden sculpture (18 carats), that can be used in real life, and has been fabricated with the help of Kohler, a well known bathroom item’s brand. When it was exhibited for the first time, the visitors could use it as a real toilet, which created huge lines and debates about the limits of contemporary art.
Cattelan, who’s famous for mixing social criticism and humor, used the golden toilet to question luxury, inequality and consumerism. The message was clear; something as mundane as a toilet, can become a symbol of power, wealth and absurdity.
From a cinematic robbery to a new auction
The first golden toilet from Maurizio Cattelan disappear when a group of thieves entered the Blenheim Palace in England and took it, completely tearing it off the ground. The authorities stopped a few people involved in the crime. And although some were condemned, the piece is still not found today. They believe it was probably melted or resold.
But now, the twin version of this masterpiece shines again—this time under very strict security. It will be exposed from November 8 to 18 at Sotheby‘s headquarters in New York, inside of the Breuer Building’s bathroom; the new building of the auction house.
This time though, it won’t be possible to use it: “We do not want people sitting on the art,” said Sotheby’s expert David Galperin.
A new art record?
The auction promises to be iconic. Sotheby’s trusts that the piece will exceed 10 million dollars and perhaps break Cattelan’s own art record, set by Him in 2001 (the famous sculpture of little Hitler kneeling). If it does, The Italian ratios will show the world once again that contemporary art is not only about beauty but about provoking, make people think, and maybe smiling on the way.
With “America”, the artist wants to remind us that the value of art is not just on the materials, it’s also on the conversation it inspires to have. I mean, I can see many debates in which a golden toilet called “America” can turn to, it would go for hours.
Art: from a banana to a toilet
Art has always have a weird side; it’s very subjective, and always depends on the eye who’s looking at it.
Maurizio Cattelan continues to play with the boundaries between what’s absurd and what’s great. His new auction at Sotheby’s in New York, look to remind us also how we can find art even in the most strange places. It’s a brilliant critic—literally—because it’s made of gold!