Chinese crypto chief buys viral banana artwork for $6.2 million

A seemingly ordinary banana taped to a wall, part of an artwork titled 'Comedian' by Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan, was sold for $6.2 million (€5.8 million) at Sotheby’s in New York.

The artwork was purchased by Chinese-born cryptocurrency entrepreneur and business executive, Justin Sun.

"This is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community," Sun remarked on X.

Comedian first gained notoriety at the Art Basel show in Miami Beach in 2019, wherewhere people made fun of it.

The banana displayed in the artwork is not actually five years old.

Fresh bananas are reserved for each exhibition of the artwork, and this is the third time the artwork has been on display.

The banana in the first exhibition was eaten by performance artist David Daytona, who said he was “hungry” while inspecting it at the Miami show.

However, the banana has sparked a debate about whether it should be considered art at all.

Sun, the founder of the crypto exchange Tron, sees it as a profound artistic statement.

"I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history. I am honored to be the proud owner of the banana and look forward to it sparking further inspiration and impact for art enthusiasts around the world," his post read on X.

 In the coming days, I will personally eat this banana, respecting its place as both historical art and popular culture," Sun added

The purchase came with a certificate confirming the artwork’s authenticity and its creation by Maurizio Cattelan. It also included detailed instructions on replacing the banana with a fresh one once it decays.