The most thought provoking bananas in town.
How does one write about two sentient bananas taped to a wall discovering they are “art”?
This is the precise conundrum one faces when making sense of How To Art, the New Zealand sensation confusing the nation. At first glance, the piece seems to be a clever bit of fruit clowning, though it quickly becomes apparent that there may be more to it once you peel back the layers. What is art? Who gets to say what art is? And how do you ascribe value to that ephemeral artistic quality? There is much more to ponder here than one might originally expect when signing up to see a show about two bananas.
Our sturdy fruits take the audience on a journey of self-discovery when they, themselves, realize that they have the power to make “art.” They take to the task with gusto, even performing their own auction with some of their presumed creator’s lunch scraps. They tour to places unknown, where their existence becomes something more akin to high art as “post-ironic fruit,” as if assigning a greater number of adjectives somehow legitimizes their place in the art world and distinguishes them from other bananas taped to walls.
To round out the performance, the gallery head appears at intervals to instruct the audience not to touch the works and to sell the pieces in turn, until they, themselves, are ultimately sold to an audience member. There is apparently much to be said for two clown bananas taped to a wall.
By the end of the show, the lines between art and artist, audience and performer, are so thoroughly blurred that you may just find yourself becoming art in the process or, perhaps, discovering that nothing is art at all. The crux of the matter is that you decide what value to place on the experience you have. And, frankly, by reading this review, you have already engaged in one of the many problems of “art”: this review could be completely obsolete simply because you have read it or a great guide if you take stock in theatrical reviews.
See it if you want, for whatever it is worth to you. This reviewer gives it two bananas and five stars for good measure.
Show Listing: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/how-to-art
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Venue: Iron Belly at Underbelly, Cowgate
Dates: Aug 5th -30th (exl. 17th, 24th)
Time: 21:40 (60 mins)
Ticket prices: £13.50 / concessions £12.50 / Child (15 & Under) £12.50
Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com
Suitable for 14+