Maurizio Cattelan’s work titled Comedian (a banana taped to a wall) was put up for auction at Sotheby’s in New York on November 20.
According to the auction house, the artwork was expected to fetch between 1 million and 1.5 million dollars (approximately 34 million 608 thousand lira).
According to a report by the New York Times, the work was sold for 6.2 million dollars (approximately 213 million 833 thousand TL).
The work was purchased by Justin Sun, the founder of the famous cryptocurrency platform TRON.
As reported by Diken, it was learned that Sun, who purchased the work, will not be taking the original banana home.
David Galperin, Head of Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s, had spoken to the Associated Press about the work as follows:
“When you buy a Cattelan ‘Comedian,’ what you are buying is not the banana itself. What is given to the owner is a certificate of authenticity that grants the permission and authority to replicate this banana and duct tape on their wall as an original work of art by Maurizio Cattelan.”
In 2021, Cattelan had explained the story of the banana to The Art Newspaper with these meaningful words:
“For me, ‘Comedian’ was not a joke, but a sincere commentary and a reflection on what we value. In art fairs, speed and business reign supreme. So I saw it this way: If I had to be at a fair, I could sell a banana just as others sell their paintings. I could play within the system, but by my own rules.”
News Source: 12punto
