A conceptual artwork featuring a simple banana taped to a wall fetched $6.2 million (€5.8 million) at a New York auction, with the winning bid placed by a prominent cryptocurrency entrepreneur. “Comedian” by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan became a sensation when it was first unveiled in 2019 at Art Basel Miami Beach, as attendees debated whether the single yellow fruit affixed to a white wall with silver duct tape was a joke or a sly critique of the art market’s standards. The artist, renowned for his hyperrealistic sculptures and satirical art, has described the piece as “a sincere commentary and a reflection on what we value.” At one point, another artist removed the banana from the wall and consumed it. The work garnered so much attention that it had to be taken down. However, three editions of the piece were sold for between $120,000 and $150,000, according to the gallery managing the sales at the time. Five years later, Justin Sun, the founder of the cryptocurrency platform TRON, paid over 40 times the higher price point at the Sotheby’s auction. More precisely, Sun acquired a certificate of authenticity that allows him to tape a banana to a wall and label it “Comedian.” The artwork drew significant attention at the bustling Sotheby’s auction, with attendees in the crowded room snapping photos on their phones while two handlers in white gloves stood on either side of the banana. Bidding commenced at $800,000 and quickly escalated to $2 million, then $3 million, and beyond, as auctioneer Oliver Barker quipped, “Don’t let it slip away.” Barker remarked, “Don’t miss this opportunity. These are words I’ve never thought I’d say: Five million dollars for a banana.” The final hammer price announced in the room was $5.2 million, excluding the approximately $1 million in auction house fees, which the buyer paid. In a statement, Sun said the piece “represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community.” However, he noted that the latest version of “Comedian” won’t endure for long. “Additionally, 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,” Sun said. Sotheby’s describes Cattelan as “among Contemporary Art’s most brilliant provocateurs.” The auction house stated, “He has persistently disrupted the art world’s status quo in meaningful, irreverent, and often controversial ways.” David Galperin, Sotheby’s head of contemporary art in the Americas, has characterized the artwork as “a defiant work of pure genius.”
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