Justin Sun, founder of Tron, paid $6.2 million for an artwork consisting of a banana taped to a wall, and plans to eat it.
Description of the Artwork
Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork called 'Comedian' is a fresh banana stuck to a wall with duct tape. The owner of this artwork can replace the banana as it rots and the tape if needed. Justin Sun essentially paid for instructions on making such an artwork and a certificate of authenticity.
Auction and Purchase
Sotheby's reported that there were over six minutes of intense bidding for the piece. Starting at $800,000, the price quickly rose to millions. Sun managed to outbid six others with a bid of $5.2 million plus $1 million in fees, more than four times its presale estimate.
History and Scandals with the Banana
If Sun eats the banana, he will be the third person documented doing so. A student ate the banana in a Seoul museum in April last year, and in 2019, artist David Datuna ate the piece after it sold at Miami's Art Basel.
Sun’s purchase draws interest not only as an art object but as a cultural phenomenon combining elements of art, memes, and cryptocurrencies. It raises questions about the value of art and its perception in contemporary society.
