Duct-taped banana artwork sells for €5.8 million in New York City

Maurizio Cattelan’s provocative artwork, Comedian – a banana duct-taped to a wall – has sold for an astonishing €5.8 million at Sotheby’s in New York.

This figure is four times higher than the pre-sale estimate.

The winning bidder was Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun, who outbid six rivals for the Italian artist’s installation.

Speaking after the auction, Mr Sun stated, “In the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience.”

The taped banana, now one of the most expensive fruits ever sold, was originally purchased earlier in the day for a mere €0.36.

A viral and controversial artwork

First unveiled to the public in 2019, Comedian instantly became a viral sensation, sparking heated debates about the definition of art.

The installation, which comes with instructions on how to replace the banana when it rots, has travelled extensively, attracting attention and controversy.

The fruit itself has been eaten on at least two occasions. In 2023, a South Korean art student consumed the banana during its display at Seoul’s Leeum Museum of Art.

Four years earlier, at Art Basel in Miami, a performance artist removed and ate the banana shortly after it sold for over €110,000. Once again, the banana was swiftly replaced, and no further action was taken.

The artist and his intentions

Mr Cattelan, one of the most popular yet controversial figures in contemporary art, has long challenged traditional notions of value and meaning.

Speaking about Comedian, Mr Cattelan remarked, “It was not a joke; it was a sincere commentary on what we value.” By transforming a humble banana into a multimillion-euro artwork, he prompts audiences to question the absurdity of value and the essence of art itself.

Mr Cattelan’s approach often involves irreverent critiques of art and institutional norms.

His playful use of materials and objects in unconventional contexts invites both commentary and engagement.

Among his most notable works is La Nona Ora (The Ninth Hour), a wax statue of Pope John Paul II struck by a meteorite, first exhibited in 1999 at Kunsthalle Basel.