The Man Who Spent $6.2 Million On Banana Duct-Taped To Wall States He’s Going To Eat It
Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun recently purchased a banana duct-taped to a wall for $6.2 million. The banana is now famously known as part of an art piece entitled “Comedian,” which was created by Italian artist and satirist Maurizio Cattelan.
The art was put up for auction at a Sotheby’s auction in New York City, and after battling six other individuals, Sun ended up winning the work. Sun is the founder of cryptocurrency TRON, and paid for the work in crypto as well.
“I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history,” Sun said on X.
“I am honored to be the proud owner of this iconic work and look forward to it sparking further inspiration and impact for art enthusiasts around the world.”
Sun also discussed his plans to eat the artwork.
“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 said.
NBC reported that Sun eating the banana won’t actually change the value of his purchase. The $6.2 million purchase includes a roll of duct tape and instructions on how to install the banana properly. Most importantly, however, Sun will receive a certificate of authenticity that guarantees when Sun reproduces the art, it’s as original as the work of Cattelan.
The banana itself isn’t actually included in the purchase. Since fruit rots rather quickly, the value of the art lies in the certificate of authenticity, which states that when you buy the work and reproduce it, it’s just as original as the initial “Comedian” piece.
“What you buy when you buy Cattelan’s Comedian is not the banana itself, but a certificate of authenticity that grants the owner the permission and authority to reproduce this banana and duct tape on their wall as an original artwork by Maurizio Cattelan,” David Galperin, Sotheby’s head of contemporary art, said to The Associated Press.
“This is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community,” Sun said.
“Comedian” initially debuted at Art Basel Miami in 2019, and was priced at $120,000.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
