$6.2M Banana: Maurizio Cattelan's Controversial 'Comedian' Sells at Auction
A banana duct-taped to a wall has once again captured the world’s attention, this time selling for an astounding $6.2 million at a New York auction. The artwork, titled "Comedian", is a creation of Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan. Initially showcased at the Art Basel in Miami Beach in 2019, this edible and thought-provoking piece sparked debates about the boundaries of art and its interpretation.
The piece, purchased by a cryptocurrency entrepreneur through Sotheby’s, continues to challenge perceptions of value and meaning in contemporary art, achieving exactly what Cattelan intended — making the world question, “What is art?”
The fruit and its single strip of silver duct tape, which sold for $120,000 five years ago, cost Chinese-born cryptocurrency pioneer Justin Sun more than $6 million on Wednesday.
"This is not just an artwork. It represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community," Sun was quoted as saying in the Sotheby's statement.
"I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history."
With seven possible purchasers, the sale exceeded all expectations; prior to the bidding, the auction house set a guiding price of $1–1.5 million.
Sun is effectively purchasing a certificate of authenticity indicating the piece was made by Cattelan, along with instructions on how to replace the fruit when it goes bad, considering the shelf life of a banana.
Performance artist David Datuna claimed to have been "hungry" after viewing the first version of the installation at the Miami show, and the third version was up for sale Wednesday.
Sun, the creator of the cryptocurrency exchange Tron, stated that he too planned to devour his investment.
"In the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honoring its place in both art history and popular culture," he stated.
Cattelan, who is well-known for his 18-carat gold toilet and banana artwork, criticizes the art industry for being speculative and not helping artists. "The Ninth Hour," one of his challenging and hilarious compositions, has been submitted to Trump.