Prepare to be dazzled by the ultimate golden throne! Maurizio Cattelan's solid-gold toilet, aptly named 'America,' is set to make a splash at a Sotheby's auction this November, with a starting bid that will reflect the price of gold on the day. But wait, there's a twist! This isn't just any ordinary toilet; it's a fully functional work of art that has already caused quite a stir in the art world.
You might recall Cattelan's infamous duct-taped banana, which sold for $6.5 million at a Sotheby's auction last year. Well, this time, he's taking things to the next level. The artist has crafted a 101.2-kilogram (223.1-pound) golden toilet, a second iteration of his previous creation, which was famously stolen from the birthplace of Winston Churchill in 2019. And now, this new 'America' is ready for its moment in the spotlight.
The toilet will be installed as a functional bathroom in New York's Breuer Building, the new home of Sotheby's. But here's where it gets controversial: the piece is a thought-provoking commentary on the art market and its value systems. As Sotheby's head of contemporary art, David Galperin, explains, 'America' holds a mirror to the art world, challenging its beliefs and questioning the very nature of art itself. It's a bold statement that is sure to spark discussions and debates.
So, will this golden toilet fetch the estimated $10 million? And what does it say about the intersection of art and commerce? The auction on November 18th promises to be an exciting event, leaving us all wondering about the fate of 'America' and the future of art as we know it.
