Duct-taped banana artwork sold for $6.2m in the US

Maurizio Cattelan's controversial artwork, Comedian, featuring a banana duct-taped to a wall, has sold for $6.2m at Sotheby's in New York. The sale price significantly exceeded pre-sale estimates, achieving nearly four times the expected amount.

The artwork was purchased by Chinese entrepreneur Justin Sun, known for his work in cryptocurrency, following an intense bidding session with six other contenders. Speaking after the auction, Sun described his plans to consume the banana as part of what he referred to as "this unique artistic experience."

Justin Sun, who also heads the Tron blockchain network, is no stranger to controversy. The US Securities and Exchange Commission recently accused him of fraud, alleging that he artificially inflated the trading volumes of Tron's cryptocurrency token, TRX. Sun has denied the charges.

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This banana could sell for over $1 million

The $6.2m installation—originally made with a banana reportedly costing just $0.35—includes instructions for replacing the fruit once it decays. Since its debut in 2019, the work has sparked widespread discussion about the nature of art and its value. The banana has been consumed on at least two notable occasions: in 2023, by a South Korean art student at Seoul's Leeum Museum of Art, and in 2019, by a performance artist shortly after it was sold for $120,000 at Art Basel in Miami. Each time, the fruit was swiftly replaced.

Comedian became a viral sensation upon its unveiling and has travelled to various locations worldwide. Its deceptively simple concept has been both celebrated and criticised, provoking debates about art's limits and definitions.