Justin Sun, the founder of the Tron blockchain network, bought a banana stuck to the wall with duct tape for $6.24 million at the Sotheby’s contemporary art auction in New York. This is not just a fruit, but a famous work of art called Comedian («Comedian»), created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. The transaction amount significantly exceeded the preliminary estimated value of $1-1.5 million.
The work «Comedian» first went viral in 2019. There are three copies of it. The Italian’s work is perceived as a critique of the illogical luxury of the contemporary art market. San described the banana as a «cultural phenomenon that combines the worlds of art, memes, and the crypto community».
The founder of Tron won the work after a tense battle with six other buyers. He was represented at the auction by Sotheby’s China office. The purchase includes a banana, adhesive tape, a certificate of authenticity, and detailed instructions on how to replace the banana when it becomes necessary. The entrepreneur said he plans to eat the banana in the near future, considering it part of the artistic experience.
«I believe that this work will inspire reflection and discussion in the future and become part of history. I am honored to own a symbol that unites art and culture in such a unique way,» – wrote Sun.
Many believe that this acquisition is a strategic move to draw attention to the cryptocurrency projects of Sahn, who is known for high-profile purchases and publicity stunts. For example, this year he offered to buy Bitcoin directly from the German government to avoid selling it on the open market.
Interestingly, Sahn purchased the work Comedian («Comedian») shortly after the listing of a cryptocurrency inspired by this work called Banana Tape Wall (BTW) on Binance. After the announcement of the largest exchange, the value of the memcoin jumped by 120%, and then again, but not so much.
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