Values at Stake: Lessons from the Artwork 'Comedian' on Product Values, Miscommunications, and Responsibility

5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas

In this episode, Ricardo reflects on the sale of Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork The Comedian, a banana taped together with duct tape that cost US$6.2 million. He discusses three lessons that can be applied to projects: (1) the concept of value, highlighting that value resides in the exclusivity of the work, not in the physical object; (2) how communication can manipulate perceptions, exemplifying the media’s distorted interpretation of the work; and (3) social responsibility in projects, criticizing actions that perpetuate inequalities. Ricardo concludes that project managers must balance efficiency with a positive societal impact.

Listen to the podcast to know more.