Cryptocurrency entrepreneur and founder of the TRON platform, Justin Sun, purchased the artwork “Comedian” by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan for $6.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction. The piece, a banana taped to a wall with duct tape, has become one of the most talked-about works in the world of contemporary art.
The Story of “Comedian”
The Comedian was first presented at the Art Basel fair in Miami Beach in 2019. Cattelan created three versions of the installation, two of which sold for $120,000 each. The third was acquired by the Solomon Guggenheim Museum, despite significant interest from collectors and artists.
Later, one of the artwork’s subsequent owners, collector David Datuna, ate one of the bananas, calling his performance Hungry Artist. The organizers replaced the fruit, emphasizing that the banana itself was only part of the concept, while the primary artwork was the certificate verifying ownership of the “Comedian”.
The New Owner's Plans
Justin Sun is the latest buyer of the Comedian. He boasted about his acquisition on X, stating that he sees the piece not just as art but as a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community. He expressed hope that this purchase would inspire new discussions and become part of history. Sun also announced his intention to personally eat the banana in the coming days, viewing this as a unique artistic experience.
Additionally, the businessman reached out to Elon Musk, proposing to “get this banana to Mars,” further continuing the line of provocation and art irony.
