The Astonishing Sale of Maurizio Cattelan's "Comedian" for $6.24 Million

Show Notes
Transcript

Could a banana duct-taped to a canvas be worth millions? This episode challenges you to reconsider what we hold valuable in today's world by exploring the astonishing sale of Maurizio Cattelan's "Comedian" for $6.24 million. With insights from Oliver Barker, the auctioneer who managed this bewildering sale, and Justin Sun, the buyer who sees the piece as a cultural bridge, we dissect the societal implications of such investments. Our exploration taps into the bewildering intersection of art, memes, and the crypto community, questioning the boundaries of modern art and its value.

As you listen, reflect on how these themes resonate with your life choices and priorities. Drawing inspiration from Jewish teachings, we emphasize the importance of discerning accurate actuality in our lives—whether we spend our money, time, or energy. Are you investing in what truly matters for your personal growth and integrity? Join us for a provocative conversation that challenges the notion of value, urging a deeper contemplation of what is while on your journey to self-improvement. Tune in for a compelling dialogue that reshapes your perspective on art, money, and personal growth.

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Transcript

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When a banana duct taped to a canvas sold for $120,000 in 2019, the world went nuts, and rightfully so.

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But hopefully you are unaware of the fact that last Wednesday, at Sotheby's auction house in New York City Sotheby's auction house in New York City $6.24 million was paid for one of Maurizio Catalan's viral artwork creations, titled Comedian.

00:00:37.695 --> 00:00:47.783
That is a banana duct taped to a canvas, to a piece of paper.

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This is not a joke, some sort of myth tale or made-up story.

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It is reality.

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Look it up.

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Perhaps you're already aware of this madness.

00:01:04.819 --> 00:01:41.513
Shortly afterwards, after Oliver Barker, the proud auctioneer, said that this painting is disruptive, iconic, he went on to reveal that the auction house sold the painting to somebody named Justin Sun, a Chinese collector, who said quote this is not just artwork, but it is a representative of a cultural phenomenon that bridges world art, memes and the crypto community, whatever that means.

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Folks, hopefully you are aware and hopefully the story shakes you awake that as a Jewish person, you have an obligation to give value and decide to what you give value to in this world.

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And 6.24 million dollars that amount of money.

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Decide to what you give value to in this world.

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And 6.24 million dollars that amount of money that was spent on a banana and some duct tape.

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Well, that value could sustain the entire yeshivas of Elushin for its entire existence, but it was spent here On a banana and some duct tape.

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$6.24 million could run BMG, the Motivation Congregation, yeshiva Asmir, for years and years and years, if not decades.

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Well, maybe not if you put Mir and BMG in there, but you could run the Motivation Congregation forever.

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You could donate 6,000 sets of shas to different tamirechachameh, but instead you got a banana and subducting A baltashchis.

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Folks, the very beginning of self-growth, self-improvement, zehirus what Ramchal calls it in his Mesilas Yisharim, chapter 3, is to understand.

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Quote you need to know what is true good, what do you give value to?

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What do you spend your money on?

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What do you spend your time accomplishing?

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What is worth value in your life, what is the sum of the matter, what is the ultimate evil that you should flee from it?

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To get your priorities, in order to understand what your money's worth to you and how much this piece of paper with a picture of Benjamin Franklin on it is worth to you, what your time is worth to you, how much you would sell one minute of Torah study for, and what love, love and what caring and integrity, what those values and attributes mean to you, that hierarchy that you have clear to you.

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That is where Judaism and your growth, self-growth, all begins.

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Don't waste it on a banana and sub duct tape, but come to terms with what it is that you give value to and then put all your effort into achieving what has true and inherent worth and value.

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