In a surprising twist at Sotheby’s in New York, Maurizio Cattelan's cheeky piece titled "Comedian," featuring a banana duct-taped to a wall, sold for an astounding $6.2 million—over four times its predicted price. Chinese cryptocurrency mogul Justin Sun triumphed in a bidding war against six competitors to acquire the controversial artwork.
Immediately after the auction, Sun, who is known for running the Tron blockchain network, declared his intention to eat the banana as part of the experience. Remarkably, the dropped fruit was originally purchased earlier that day for just $0.35.
"Comedian" gained a massive following after its debut in 2019, igniting debates on the nature of art itself. The installation travels globally and comes with instructions on how to swap out a rotting banana for a fresh one. Interestingly, the banana has already faced two rather unconventional munching incidents: once by an art student in South Korea and once by a performance artist at Art Basel in Miami back in 2019.
While Sun faces legal challenges related to accusations of fraud linked to his crypto endorsements, this playful banana artwork continues to generate buzz that transcends the art world.
Immediately after the auction, Sun, who is known for running the Tron blockchain network, declared his intention to eat the banana as part of the experience. Remarkably, the dropped fruit was originally purchased earlier that day for just $0.35.
"Comedian" gained a massive following after its debut in 2019, igniting debates on the nature of art itself. The installation travels globally and comes with instructions on how to swap out a rotting banana for a fresh one. Interestingly, the banana has already faced two rather unconventional munching incidents: once by an art student in South Korea and once by a performance artist at Art Basel in Miami back in 2019.
While Sun faces legal challenges related to accusations of fraud linked to his crypto endorsements, this playful banana artwork continues to generate buzz that transcends the art world.
