The controversial work “Comedian”, by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, made up of a simple banana stuck to a wall with tape, was auctioned in New York for 6.2 million dollars (around 5.9 million euros).
The buyer was Justin Sun, founder of the TRON cryptocurrency, who acquired a certificate of authenticity that allows him to recreate the work on any wall.
The auction, which started with a bid of 800 thousand dollars, quickly escalated, reaching impressive values, until closing at 5.2 million dollars, to which was added one million in fees.
Auctioneer Oliver Barker couldn’t hide his astonishment: “Five million dollars for a banana! These are words I never thought I would say.”
Sun described the acquisition as a reflection of contemporary culture, bridging art, memes and the cryptocurrency community. “Comedian” had already generated global attention since its debut in 2019, when it sold for $120,000 and sparked debates about the value and purpose of contemporary art.
Maurizio Cattelan, known for provoking reflections with unusual works, lives in New York. Other notable pieces include a solid gold toilet installed at the Guggenheim Museum in 2016 and “The Ninth Hour”, a wax statue of Pope John Paul II struck by a meteorite, exhibited in 1999.
“Comedian”, simultaneously criticized and praised, continues to challenge conventions and redefine the limits of modern art, even if, from time to time, the banana is eaten, something that has happened twice since its creation.
