Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan’s conceptual piece Comedian — a banana duct-taped to a wall — was auctioned off for a staggering $6.2 million at Sotheby’s in New York. The artwork, which gained global attention for its cheeky simplicity, sparked a bidding frenzy. Starting at $800,000, the price climbed to $5.2 million in just five minutes before a buyer’s premium pushed the final amount higher.
The winning bid came from Justin Sun, the founder of the cryptocurrency platform TRON, who made the purchase using cryptocurrency. According to Artnet.com, Sun is now tasked with the unique responsibility of replacing the banana as it inevitably decays.
Sotheby’s noted that the piece far exceeded its pre-sale high estimate of $1.5 million, with competitive bids coming in from around the world, both in-person and online.
Before the auction, Sotheby’s shared a video of a member talking about why the banana art piece has captured so much attention.
“This is meant to be funny. It is an absurdity. It is a reference to banana peels and vaudeville comedy. There is so much in this that is intensely humorous. And that is the first step—recognising the humour. The second step is recognising the import,” the member said.
According to AP, this isn’t the first time Comedian has caused a stir. When it debuted at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019, it left festivalgoers debating whether it was a satirical jab at the art world or a clever commentary on the value we assign to objects.
The piece even made headlines when another artist removed the banana and ate it — a moment as outrageous as the artwork itself. The artwork caused such a stir that it was eventually taken off display. However, at the time, three editions were sold for between $120,000 and $150,000 through the gallery managing the sales.
After five years, Sun bought one of the pieces at a Sotheby’s auction, shelling out more than 40 times the original price. He also reportedly secured a certificate of authenticity, which gives him the official right to duct-tape a banana to a wall and label it “Comedian.”
