ART OF THE MATTER: THE HIGHLIGHTS OF 2019

Here’s a lowdown on what made news — and how — in the art world, this year

Henna Rakheja

French artist Henri Matisse’s famous line — Creativity takes courage — remains true for all times, since every now and then there comes a news, bizarre or burlesque, that puts the spotlight back on art. One of the most recent incidents being one where an installation, titled Comedian by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan — that had a banana duct-taped to a wall — went under the hammer for $1,20,000 and then was eaten by a performing artist. An act by the comedian, literally!

Let’s take a look at this and more that happened, artwise, in the year that went by.

PHOTO: HENRY NICHOLLS/REUTERS

PHOTO: EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/REUTERS Visitors get clicked in front of the artwork, Comedian by Maurizio Cattelan