Duct-Taped Banana Brings $6.2 Million at Sotheby's Auction

A banana secured to a wall by duct tape has become one of the most expensive pieces of contemporary art ever sold, igniting discussions about the nature of art itself.

In an unexpected twist in the art world, Maurizio Cattelan's installation titled "Comedian" recently sold for $6.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York, far surpassing initial projections. The winning bid came from Justin Sun, a Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur, who outbid five others for the piece on Wednesday.

Sun expressed plans to consume the banana as part of his artistic experience, raising eyebrows in art and culinary circles alike. Initially, the banana was purchased earlier in the day for only $0.35, showcasing the dramatic financial turnaround associated with contemporary art. Cattelan first introduced "Comedian" in 2019, and it quickly became a viral sensation, simultaneously generating fervent discussions regarding the essence of art.

The installation comes with specific guidelines on replacing the banana when it decomposes, underscoring its ephemeral nature. This installation has previously made headlines for multiple instances where the banana was consumed; notably, a South Korean art student devoured the banana during its display at a museum in Seoul this year, necessitating a replacement.

Previously in 2019, a performance artist infamously removed the banana from the wall after the artwork had been sold for $120,000 at Art Basel in Miami, although the banana was promptly substituted. Justin Sun, who oversees the Tron blockchain network, has faced legal challenges from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly misrepresenting trading volumes of his crypto token TRX, an accusation he firmly dismisses.