The ART of compassion - for Shah Alam who sold 'that' banana

Some guy bought a banana for 25 cents from a street vendor in New York City. He taped it to a wall of an auction house. Some other guy bought it for $5.2 million. The auction house got a commission of $1 million.

Shah Alam is that street vendor. He is 74-years old. He works 12 hour shifts for $12 an hour. He lives in a basement apartment with four other men. He needs cataract surgery. He cried when a reporter told him what happened to the banana he sold.

Let’s turn this cruel joke around and show our compassion and gratitude to the hard-working immigrants who make this city what it is.

Let’s raise $100,000 for Shah Alam.

Why not make it $1,000,000?

Come on New Yorkers! We’ve got this!

Art IS powerful. It can and DOES change lives.

100% of proceeds will go to Shah Alam. Let’s make him shed tears of joy!

Now that’s a story worth reporting.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/27/nyregion/banana-auction-sothebys.html?smid=url-share

With love and gratitude to all.

Zana Briski

Real Artist

Academy Award-winning director of

Born into Brothels