At an auction in New York, a banana affixed to a wall with duct tape fetched an astonishing $6.2 million (£4.9 million). This conceptual art piece, titled "Comedian," soared to viral fame after its debut by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019. Festival attendees pondered whether the solitary fruit, taped to a pristine white wall with silver duct tape, was a whimsical joke or a bold commentary on the questionable values within the art collecting world.
Sotheby's auction house revealed that it was the announcement of a fresh, provocative original work by the esteemed artist Cattelan that initially captured the world's imagination. However, "Comedian" swiftly evolved into a viral global phenomenon, drawing unprecedented crowds, flooding social media, securing the cover of The New York Post, and dividing both viewers and critics alike. Intriguingly, at one point, someone even plucked the banana from its wall-mounted perch and consumed it.
Now, Justin Sun, the founder of the cryptocurrency platform TRON, has shelled out $6.2 million at an auction for a certificate of authenticity that grants him the right to tape a banana to a wall and call it "Comedian." Sun commented that "Comedian" embodies a cultural phenomenon that seamlessly connects the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community. However, this latest iteration won't linger long, as he intends to consume it. "Moreover, in the days ahead, I will personally devour the banana as part of this unparalleled artistic experience, honoring its storied place in both art history and popular culture," Sun proclaimed.
The Sotheby's auction kicked off with a bidding start of $800,000 and skyrocketed into the millions within minutes, with the auctioneer humorously remarking, "Don't let it slip through your fingers." Lucius Elliot, head of contemporary marquee sales at Sotheby's, noted that there has been considerable debate over "whether this is art, a prank, or a symbol of the art market's excesses." He concluded, "In reality, it is, of course, all of those things."
