A banana duct-taped to a wall has sold for $6.2 million.
Maurizio Cattelan's Comedian artwork - a banana duct-taped to a wall - has sold for $6.2 million
Created by 64-year-old artist Maurizio Cattelan in 2019, 'Comedian' - an artwork consisting of the yellow fruit being stuck to a plain white wall with grey duct tape - was sold at the Sotheby's art auction, in New York, on Wednesday (20.11.24).
According to The New York Times, the listing started at $800,000 before seven bidders tried their luck for five minutes on bagging what is likely to be one of the most expensive pieces of fruit ever sold.
Chinese-born crypto engineer Justin Sun won - and gets a certificate of authenticity and instructions on how to display it.
However, he wrote on the social media platform X that he will "personally eat the banana" in the "coming days".
He wrote on X: "I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve bought the banana.
"I am Justin Sun, and I’m excited to share that I have successfully acquired Maurizio Cattelan’s iconic work, 'Comedian' for $6.2 million.
"This is not just an artwork, it represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community.
"I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history.
"I am honoured to be the proud owner of the banana and look forward to it sparking further inspiration and impact for art enthusiasts around the world.
"Additionally, in the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honouring its place in both art history and popular culture.
"Stay tuned!"
The artwork debuted at the Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019, which saw many attendees question themselves if it was a joke or real, and resulted in it being taken away due to the amount of attention it received.