The slippery saga continues. When it was announced that Maurizio Cattelan’s infamous duct-taped banana was going to auction with an estimate of $1 million last month, the reaction was understandably extreme. As the inflammatory fruit rotted away on the wall at Sotheby’s, allegations rolled in of money laundering and just plain stupidity. But apparently the critics underestimated just how silly things could get.
On November 20, the banana artwork (technically known as Comedian) was sold for $5.2 million – $6.2 million, with buyer’s fees. “I never thought I’d say ‘$5 million for a banana,’” auctioneer Oliver Barker joked, as the hammer fell at the Sotheby’s evening auction. And who was the lucky buyer? A Chinese-born crypto bro, named Justin Sun.
“I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve bought the banana!!!” Sun wrote on X early the next morning. “This is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community. I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history.”
“I am honoured to be the proud owner of the banana,” he continued, “and look forward to it sparking further inspiration and impact for art enthusiasts around the world.” More importantly, he vowed to personally eat the banana in the coming days, as “part of this unique artistic experience, honouring its place in both art history and popular culture”.
It wasn’t just talk, either. Today (November 29), Sun officially consumed the fruit in front of the international press at a luxury hotel in Hong Kong. “It’s much better than other bananas,” he said. “It’s really quite good.”
If you’ve been following this loyal author’s extensive coverage of Cattelan’s banana over the last half-decade, you’ll already know that it’s been eaten before. If you’re not caught up (firstly, get your priorities straight), the curved fruit was consumed by the self-proclaimed performance artist David Datuna shortly after it was first displayed at Art Basel Miami (priced $120,000) in 2019. Then, in 2023, it was scoffed again by a peckish student in South Korea.
But have no fear! The banana itself is but a fleeting object; the real art is the controversy it caused along the way. Well, actually, what Sun paid for is essentially a certificate of authenticity, alongside some assembly instructions for the ever-changing artwork, which requires the owner to supply their own tape and fresh fruit. In fact, the specific banana he bought at Sotheby’s was purchased for 35 cents at a Manhattan fruit stand the very same day. Since the fruit stall owner, Mr Shah Alam, expressed dismay at the amount of money changing hands for his fruit, Sun has made a very public donation of 100,000 bananas to his stand.
So where does this leave us? With Sun in possession of Comedian, and another edition locked away in the collection of the Guggenheim Museum, has the banana saga finally drawn to a close? Don’t count on it. Something tells me we’ll hear more banana drama in years to come, and I – your humble servant – will be on hand to keep you in the loop.
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve bought the banana🍌 !!! @SpaceX@Sothebys I am Justin Sun, and I’m excited to share that I have successfully acquired Maurizio Cattelan’s iconic work, Comedian for $6.2 million. This is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon… pic.twitter.com/lAj1RE6y0C
— H.E. Justin Sun 🍌 (@justinsuntron) November 21, 2024
