Banana duct-taped to a wall sells for $120,000 at Art Basel

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A banana duct-taped to a wall has sold for $120,000 at one of North America's most prestigious(有名望的) art shows. It was designed by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.It is not the first time that Cattelan's work has made headlines.However, people appeared so astounded by the popularity of the artist's latest piece.

“It's a miracle; I don't know how this happened. When we started to work together I had to fight to convince collectors one by one to buy his work,” said the gallery's founder Emmanuel Perrotin.

When two editions of the piece promptly sold for $120,000, the vendors decided to offer the third and final piece for $150,000. At least two institutions are reportedly interested in purchasing it. However, potential owners have not been given advice on what to do if the work begins to rot.

Entitled Comedian, the artwork is made up of a banana purchased in a Miami supermarket and held to the wall with a single piece of duct tape. Despite the title of the piece, Perrotin insists the work is not a joke, with everything from the shape of the banana to its placement in the installation given a great deal of consideration. Cattelan himself has offered no direction on how to interpret the work, but he previously said the bananas were a symbol of global trade as well as a classic device for humour.

The installation has fast become one of the most talked-about works at this year's art show, with several viewers lining up to take selfies with the piece. One passerby was heard declaring the work the best of the show. However, some art fans were less than impressed.

The gallery said Cattelan spent a year working on the piece and had originally expected a sculpture shaped like a banana. “Every time he travelled, he brought a banana with him and hung it in his hotel room to find inspiration. He made several models: first in resin, then in bronze and in painted bronze,” the gallery said in a statement. Finally, Cattelan decided a real banana was the perfect fit.

阅读检测

1. What does the underlined word “astounded” mean in paragraph 1?

A. Surprised. B. Amused.

C. Excited. D. Disappointed.

2. What can we know about Cattelan's work?

A. It has no such great value.

B. It was designed at random.

C. It's the result of deep thought.

D. It can have great effects on art.

3. Where is the text probably from?

A. A textbook. B. A research paper.

C. A popular magazine. D. A personal diary.

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It is not the first time that Cattelan's work has made headlines. 这并不是卡特兰的作品第一次上头条。

【信息提取】句中It is not the first time后接that从句，从句的谓语动词用现在完成时态，意为“这不是……第一次……”。

【句式仿写】这是我第一次看到这么有趣的一件艺术品。