If you’ve ever questioned whether a banana duct-taped to a wall qualifies as art, you’re already inside the strange and subversive world of Maurizio Cattelan. The celebrated (and often controversial) Italian artist lands in Porto with “Sussurro,” a sprawling exhibition at the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art and its lush parklands—on view through 11 January 2026.
Born in Padua in 1960, Cattelan has long been the art world’s mischievous provocateur. His career has been built on irony, spectacle, and poking holes in the solemnity of art institutions. With “Sussurro” (Portuguese for “Whisper”), Cattelan whispers… and shouts—inviting visitors into a surreal experience that’s equal parts profound and preposterous.
The exhibition takes over the museum’s exquisite 1930s Art Deco Serralves Villa, and spills into the sculpture-dotted Serralves Park. Inside, expect to encounter a cast of provocative characters and objects: marble corpses, golden walls riddled with bullet holes, and miniature popes under meteorites.
Yes, that banana is here. Titled “Comedian” (2019), this now-iconic artwork consists of a real banana affixed to the wall with a strip of duct tape. Ridiculed, revered, and relentlessly reposted, it’s Cattelan’s ultimate statement on absurdity, commodification, and the fine line between art and performance. More than an object, it’s an event—living on in viral fame and watercooler debates.
Other highlights include “Untitled,” a miniature replica of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican in Rome, the haunting “La Nona Ora”, depicting Pope John Paul II struck down by a meteorite; and “Daddy Daddy”, a tragicomic Pinocchio floating face-down in the park’s lake. And don’t miss “L.O.V.E.” outside the Villa—a Romanesque hand flipping the bird, its fingers dramatically severed, a gesture of defiance aimed at societal norms.
“Sussurro” isn’t your average art show—it’s a theatrical, psychological rollercoaster. It’s history, satire, trauma, beauty, and a few belly laughs all rolled into one. In a world that often feels like performance art, Cattelan’s work holds up a funhouse mirror and dares us to take a good, long look.
For more information, visit the Serralves website. To buy tickets online, click here.
Serralves Museum
R. Dom João de Castro 210
Porto
Hours | April to September
Monday to Friday – 10:00 to 19:00
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays – 10:00 to 20:00
Hours | October to March
Monday to Friday – 10:00 to 18:00
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays – 10:00 to 19:00
Closed on 25 December and 1 January
Entrance: €24:00 – per person (children under 12 – free)
Includes access to all foundation spaces:
- Contemporary art museum
- Serralves park
- Treetop Walk
- House of Serralves
- Manoel de Oliveira house of cinema
Tickets are only valid for one entry into each space. Once you leave, you cannot re-enter. Ticket valid up to 30 days after the date of issue.
Click here to buy tickets online.