Press Release: Banana Artwork Fetches $6.2 Million at Sotheby’s Auction
NEW YORK — In a striking blend of absurdity and commercial success, Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork “Comedian” sold for an astonishing $6.2 million during an auction at Sotheby’s. The piece features a banana duct-taped to a wall, positioned precisely 160 centimeters from the floor. This unconventional art piece, which debuted in December 2019 in Miami Beach, was originally expected to sell for between $1 million and $1.5 million.
The auction commenced with bids starting at $800,000, quickly escalating to $2 million, then to $3 million and beyond, fueled by the banter of auctioneer Oliver Barker, who urged bidders not to let the opportunity slip away. The auction concluded with a final price of $5.2 million, with the total reaching $6.2 million due to additional auction house fees.
Cattelan’s “Comedian” has generated significant media attention, hailed as one of the most talked-about artworks of the century. The piece has been described by Sotheby’s as a viral sensation that has captivated audiences worldwide, igniting debates and discussions, and even making headlines on the cover of The New York Post.
The winning bid was made by Justin Sun, the founder of cryptocurrency platform TRON, who received a certificate of authenticity that grants him the right to recreate the installation by duct-taping another banana to a wall. In a nod to the artwork’s conceptual roots, Sun announced his intention to eat the banana in a personal homage to its place in contemporary art and popular culture.
This auction not only emphasizes the intersection of art and commerce but also challenges traditional notions of artistic value in the 21st century.
(Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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