The world of contemporary art is unpredictable, with its boundaries constantly being redefined as a banana duct-taped to a wall has fetched an astounding $6.2 million (Rs 52.34 crore) at a Sotheby’s auction, far exceeding its pre-sale high estimate of $1.5 million (Rs 12.68 crore).
The piece, titled ‘Comedian’ by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, soared to viral fame when it first appeared at Art Basel M
A banana duct taped to a wall sold for an incredible $6.2 million (Rs 52.34 crore) at a Sotheby’s auction, greatly above its pre-sale high estimate of $1.5 million (Rs 12.68 crore), demonstrating how unpredictable the field of contemporary art is and how its boundaries are continually being redefined.
Maurizio Cattelan, an Italian artist, created the piece, “Comedian,” which went viral after its debut at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019.David Galperin, head of contemporary art at Sotheby’s, was reported in the Washington Post as saying, “It crosses geographies, language, comprehension, and cultural barriers.” And the outcome today, in my opinion, demonstrated its universality and how it sort of pierces right to the core of the cultural zeitgeist.
Iami Beach in 2019.David Galperin, head of contemporary art at Sotheby’s, was reported in the Washington Post as saying, “It crosses geographies, language, comprehension, and cultural barriers.” And the outcome today, in my opinion, demonstrated its universality and how it sort of pierces right to the core of the cultural zeitgeist.
After seven collectors engaged in a five-minute bidding war, bitcoin entrepreneur Justin Sun placed the winning bid. Sun gets a certificate of authenticity and installation instructions for replacing the banana when it eventually rots, in addition to the right to exhibit the fruit.
In a statement following his purchase, Sun explained that the piece “represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes and the cryptocurrency community.” In an unexpected twist, the new owner has announced his intentions to “personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honouring its place in both art history and popular culture.”
The requirements for the artwork are exact: a yellow banana must be duct-taped to a white wall at a precise height of 160 centimeters (63 inches). The item has a colorful history of being consumed by a variety of people since its introduction. During its Art Basel exhibition, performance artist David Datuna made news by eating the banana. In 2023, university student Noh Huyn-soo repeated the stunt when the piece was on display at Seoul’s Leeum Museum of Art. According to a BBC report, he then taped the peel to the wall.
Cattelan, who is frequently referred as in the art world as a provocateur, has defended the piece’s somber goals. He maintained that the piece is “not a joke” but rather a “sincere critique and a reflection on what we value” in an interview with the Art Newspaper in 2021.
The sale is another significant milestone for “Comedian,” which has previously seen three versions sell for between $120,000 and $150,000 apiece during its debut at Art Basel, according to a Smithsonian Magazine report. One of these copies was later given to the Guggenheim Museum in New York City in an anonymous donation.
