Naike Rivelli Playfully Nods to $6.2M Banana Art Sale With Crushed Velvet and Duct Tape Look at Torino Film Festival

Italian actress and singer Naike Rivelli referenced a viral moment on the Torino Film Festival red carpet on Tuesday. She wore an oversize blue suit with a lace top, paired with silver round-toe platform heels and shimmering socks. However, it was her choice of embellishments that were cause for discussion.

Throughout her look, Rivelli featured utilized bananas. One was taped to her silver crossbody bag, another to her back, both secured with silver duct tape — a clear nod to Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork “Comedian.”

In 2019, the Italian artist unveiled the conceptual work at Art Basel Miami — a banana taped to a wall that quickly made headlines. The piece sold in three editions for $120,000 to $150,000, according to The New York Times. The work went so viral that performance artist David Datuna pulled it off the wall and ate it during the installation. Before the event ended, the artwork was removed from display.

Since then, one edition of the work was anonymously donated to the Guggenheim. Richard Armstrong, a director there, called it “a further demonstration of the artist’s deft connection to the history of modern art.” Now, it’s back in the news.

On Nov. 20, an edition of the “Comedian” was sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $6.2 million. It was purchased by Justin Sun, a crypto currency entrepreneur.

Others down at the film festival include Angelina Jolie and Sarah Jessica Parker. Jolie opted for a minimal, classic luxury look via a V-neck sweater, pencil skirt and ballet flats for her appearance. Parker recently wore a Gucci skirt suit, matched with some SJP Collection pumps.

The Torino Film Festival runs from Nov. 22 to 30, and the 2024 installment features films such as Ron Howard’s “Eden,” which costars Jude Law and Ana de Armas, and the world premiere of Billy Zane’s Marlon Brando biopic, “Waltzing With Brando.” This year’s Stella della Mole prize honorees also include Howard, Rosario Dawson, Sharon Stone, Giancarlo Giannini, Matthew Broderick, Emmanuelle Béart, Alec Baldwin, Michele Placido, Ornella Muti, Julia Ormond and Vince Vaughn.