Banana art sells for $6.24M: Justin Sun to eat controversial piece

The auction house Sotheby's stated prior to the bidding that the displayed elements are not the same as those the artist presented in 2019 at the Art Basel fair in Miami Beach.

The original "Comedian" was created from a banana purchased at a local grocery store and taped to a wall with silver duct tape. Cattelan later ate it in front of the audience, explaining that it was a performance, not an act of vandalism.

The new buyer received a roll of duct tape, a banana, and a certificate of authenticity along with installation instructions. This is the third edition of "Comedian"—one edition remains with a private collector, and another is in the collection of the Guggenheim Museum in New York. A Sotheby's spokesperson confirmed that a fresh fruit is used for each presentation of the artwork.

In a statement, Justin Sun emphasized that this is not just a work of art. He described Cattelan's work as "representing a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community." He also announced that he intends to eat the banana purchased at the auction. "I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history," he added.

"Comedian," first exhibited four years ago, divided the art community. Some critics see it as inspired by conceptual works that question the value of art itself. They often cite "Fountain" by Marcel Duchamp from 1917, a porcelain urinal exhibited as a work of art, as a similar example.

The auction started at $800,000, although the artwork was estimated at $1–1,5 million, reports Barron's.