Duct-Taped Banana "Art" Sells For Over $6 Million!
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"Comedian," a conceptual artwork featuring a banana duct-taped to a wall, fetched an astounding $6.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction on November 20, 2024. Bidding began at $800,000 and quickly surged to $4 million and then $5.2 million, plus $1 million in auction fees. The final price surpassed the $1.2 million pre-auction estimate for the artwork.
Created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, "Comedian" sparked widespread controversy when it debuted at Miami's Art Basel in 2019. Cattelan explained that the piece explored how society assigns value to everyday objects. He had initially thought of crafting a banana using resin or bronze. However, the artist ultimately chose a real banana to convey his message. The artwork gained even more fame after a visitor ate the banana, forcing officials to replace it with a backup.
Its immense popularity drew large crowds. Concerned the visitors might damage other artworks"Comedian" was eventually removed from public display. However, three editions of the artwork were sold at the time for prices ranging from $120,000 to $150,000 each. One of these was later donated to the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. It remains unclear which edition was auctioned on November 20.
Regardless, five years later, Chinese-born entrepreneur Justin Sun paid over 40 times the highest original price for "Comedian". The artwork's value was not in the banana itself, which had been purchased earlier that day for just 35 cents. Instead, its worth lies in the certificate of authenticity. It grants Sun the right to duct tape a banana to a wall and call it "Comedian." He also received installation instructions, including how to replace the fruit whenever it rots.
Sun said. "[The artwork] represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community."
"Additionally, 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 remarked.
Sun made good on this promise by devouring the fruit in a press conference held in Hong Kong on November 29, 2024.
“It’s much better than other bananas,” Sun told reporters. “It’s really quite good.”
Since the sale, a kind Samaritan has helped raise over $19,000 to support the New York fruit vendor whose banana was used in the auction.
Resources: NPR.org, Smithsonianmag.com, CNN.com
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213 Comments
callumho9 monthsSomeone copied him and did it with a carrot
thomasluton9 monthsBanana🍌
lstrommen9 monthsThis is such a waste of money :'( This could be used for something useful like the war in Islam, homeless people etc. :'(
koko20259 months6.2 millions 💶for a banana????That’s way to much money
kobbie9 monthsjust why just why does it have to be a banana :\
o1k2a3y9 monthsokay i get that the meaning behind it is that modern day items have value behind them but this is doing too much. Like how do you genuinenly go home knowing you bought a piece of banana taped to a wall for $6 million- supernoob109 monthsSo l can put an apple and stick it with duct tape and call it a modern art? Nah that’s crazy if l can.
levibro9 monthsOMG I WILL BUY IT
sovusezicisi9 monthslet me get a dragon fruit and tape it to a canvas and I will millions that's crazyyyyy!
darimilk9 monthsBro won the squid game and spent it all on 1 banana
moomit39 monthsfor real