Key Takeaways:
- Justin Sun purchased Maurizio Cattelan’s banana artwork, Comedian, for $6.2M and plans to eat it as part of an artistic performance.
- The auction, hosted by Sotheby’s, saw intense bidding, with the price soaring beyond its $1M–$1.5M estimate.
- Sun’s acquisition underscores his penchant for blending art, memes, and cryptocurrency culture, sparking both curiosity and criticism.
Justin Sun, founder of Tron, has purchased Comedian by Maurizio Cattelan, a $6.2 million artwork consisting of a banana duct-taped to a wall.
Announcing his acquisition on social media, Sun called it a “cultural phenomenon” that bridges art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community.
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
He plans to eat the banana as part of an artistic experience.
The auction, hosted by Sotheby’s in New York, saw intense bidding that started at $800,000.
Sun’s final bid of $5.2 million, plus $1 million in fees, far exceeded the pre-sale estimate.
A piece of art that is little more than a banana duct-taped to a wall sold at auction for $6.2 million to cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun, Sotheby's said, furthering the universal conversation about what constitutes art https://t.co/0LHdfymZeT pic.twitter.com/XfXhFVplc1
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 21, 2024
The artwork includes a certificate of authenticity and instructions for replacing the banana when it rots.
This isn’t the first time the artwork has been eaten.
In 2019, artist David Datuna consumed it after it sold for $120,000, and earlier this year, a student ate it during a Seoul exhibit.
Sun’s purchase highlights his penchant for blending cryptocurrency, art, and cultural commentary, although it has also sparked criticism.
Known for his headline-grabbing moves, Sun’s blockchain, Tron, underpins major cryptocurrency transactions.
However, he faces legal scrutiny, including investigations by U.S. authorities.
Whether Sun will actually eat the banana or preserve it remains to be seen.
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