A banana duct-taped to a wall, a controversial artwork by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was sold for a staggering $6.2 million at a New York auction. The piece, titled Comedian, gained fame in 2019 when it debuted at Art Basel in Miami Beach and sparked debate over its artistic value.
The buyer, cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun, described the work as more than just art. “This represents a cultural phenomenon bridging art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community,” Sun said in a statement from Sotheby’s.
Initially priced at $120,000 in 2019, the piece exceeded expectations, with seven bidders vying for ownership. Sotheby’s estimated its value to be between $1 million and $1.5 million before the auction.
The installation comes with a certificate of authenticity and guidelines for replacing the banana when it perishes, as the fruit’s short lifespan ensures it won’t last. Interestingly, the first iteration of Comedian was famously eaten by performance artist David Datuna at its debut show.
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Sun, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Tron, has indicated he plans to consume the banana himself, turning his purchase into a performance piece that honors its unique place in art history.
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