Maurizio Cattelan’s Cheeky Humor
If you don’t know who Maurizio Cattelan is till now, it is your fault. The Italian artist has been in the news for a while, gaining notoriety for ‘Comedian’, which is essentially a banana duct-taped to a wall. But make no mistake, as this clever piece of art was sold for $6 million. His provocative work critiques societal complacency and reinterprets cultural symbols.
America’s Golden Toilet Aimed At The Rich
During his 2011–12 retrospective at the Guggenheim, Maurizio Cattelan announced his retirement. However, he could not resist creating art. Five years later, he showcased a new piece at the museum. This time around, he stepped into the loo of the museum, setting up the golden toilet. Contrary to its use, the piece was titled “America,” which might not have been just a mere coincidence. The artwork also invokes the memory of Marcel Duchamp’s conceptual art piece Fountain (1917).
The piece was made in a Florence foundry. The pieces were made in sections that were then welded together. The museum indicated that the creation was funded entirely through private contributions. Cattelan’s golden toilet replaced an ordinary Kohler museum toilet with a fully operational replica crafted from 18-karat gold, weighing 103 kg (227 lb). Now an opulent luxury item, it was rather interesting to see how a plain household utility object was aimed at the wealthy. It was juxtaposed with its interactive nature, where visitors could use it in solitude, taking the phrase “experiencing art” to new heights. Despite continuous uses, it was pristine, thanks to a very meticulous cleaning procedure. At its opening over 100,000 visitors queued up to use it.
But what did Maurizio Cattelan wish to say with his golden toilet art? Thus far, he has only created three pieces and refused to interpret them. However, that hasn’t stopped the art aficionados from investigating the piece. At its installation in 2016, it was valued at $4-6 million. Cattelan’s golden toilet not only pokes fun at the extravagance of the art market but also alludes to the American dream of equal opportunity for everyone—its functionality ultimately serves as a reminder of the undeniable physical truths of our shared existence.
To the Guggenheim, Cattelan’s Golden Toilet was closely associated with Donald Trump’s career; a metric rise from a real estate mogul to the 45th POTUS, signifying the gilded extravagance of his belongings. Cattelan added that the significance was simply “an additional layer, but it shouldn’t be the sole one.” In September 2017, Donald Trump demanded that the Guggenheim loan van Gogh’s Landscape with Snow (1888) to the White House. However, curator Nancy Spector proposed lending America instead, where the communications between the parties transpired.
The Curious Case of the Stolen Golden Toilet
In September 2019, the artwork was loaned by the Museum to the Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, England. Cattelan’s golden toilet was installed in the restroom, once famously used by Winston Churchill. However, it was stolen before the show’s opening. The theft left a heavy dent, both on the wooden panels and the plumbing infrastructure. At the time, a man was arrested, with six more arrested in the subsequent years, although nobody was officially charged.
Maurizio Cattelan, noted “At first, when they woke me up this morning with the news, I thought it was a prank. Who’s so stupid to steal a toilet?” He also wished that the theft was a “Robin Hood-inspired” action.
Almost five years after the incident, the CCTV footage has revealed that the five perpetrators had pre-planned the raid before, as the job only took them about five minutes. Michael Jones is allegedly the mastermind of the whole operation, with Fred Doe, Bora Guck, James Sheen, and all his compatriots.
The stolen golden toilet has been reportedly dismantled to be sold to a jeweller in London’s Hatton Garden, according to The Art Newspaper. Others believe that America has already been melted and sold.
Image – America (2016). Courtesy – NPR
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