Got $160k? You can now buy this durian taped to a wall

This local durian joint is venturing into the art business. Their first piece? A durian duct-taped to a wall, available at the very reasonable price of $163,056 (wall not included).

According to 99 Old Trees, the piece, fittingly titled Durian Tape to White Wall, "looks like art, smells like fart".

But it's not just a fruit taped to a wall. The "durian bondage art" serves as a reminder of our forefathers' past struggles and signifies our colonial past, said 99 Old Trees.

In case you haven't caught on yet, this is simply a clever spoof of a work of art that sold for US$120,000 (S$163,200) recently at Miami Beach Art Basel — a banana duct-taped to a wall.

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/99oldtrees/photos/a.1590950791012538/2575690792538528/?type=3&theatre[/embed]

The work by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, titled Comedian, has been nothing short of controversial. Since its sale, detractors have questioned its value. And one self-proclaimed "hungry artist" even wolfed down the banana in front of amused bystanders.

The banana caused such a stir that it had to be removed from the fair on Dec 8 due to "uncontrollable crowd movements", Cattelan's gallery, Perrotin, said.

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Fortunately, 99 Old Trees' local rendition had a better reception among the public.

Some even asked if they could purchase it — wall and all.

Interested to add this to your art collection? According to 99 Old Trees, you can simply drop them a DM to enquire.

But if Durian Tape to White Wall is not your cup of tea, perhaps these other "art pieces" might look good on your wall.

SAMOSA DUCT-TAPED TO WALL

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/B54D12DpSEO/[/embed]

DUCT TAPE DUCT-TAPED TO WALL

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/B53d-okB1rs/[/embed]

DUCT TAPE BANANA-ED (?) TO WALL

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/B54FYlPHlQC/[/embed]

BANANA DUCT-TAPED TO SHIRT WORN BY DOG

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/B54Cy5epQZG/[/embed]

BABY YODA DUCT-TAPED TO WALL

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/B54X2PQAb8q/[/embed]

kimberlylim@asiaone.com