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‘Banana Duct Tape’: Jaw Dropping Hammered Price
Banana Duct Tape, one of Maurizio Cattelan’s most iconic and notorious artworks, was at the center of a stunning turn of events at Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction in New York. On November 20, 2024, the Italian artist’s infamous piece, officially titled “Comedian” but popularly known as the “Banana Duct Tape,” sold for an extraordinary USD 6.24 million after a heated 10-minute bidding war. The sale shattered its pre-auction estimates of USD 1 million to 1.5 million; the hammer price was more than four times the estimate.
The buyer, Justin Sun, a cryptocurrency entrepreneur and founder of the Tron platform, expressed great enthusiasm for the acquisition, describing the artwork as a blend of art, memes, and cryptocurrency culture. He also revealed plans to eat the banana as part of an artistic performance, adding a new chapter to the already controversial history of the piece.
The sale has reignited debates surrounding conceptual art and its valuation, reaffirming its status as one of the most polarizing symbols in contemporary art.
The Story Behind the Banana
First unveiled at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019, “Comedian” consists of a single banana affixed to a wall with silver duct tape. The artwork quickly became a viral sensation, sparking conversations about the definition of art in the modern age. Despite—or perhaps because of—its simplicity, the piece drew significant attention, with initial editions selling for USD 120,000 each.
Maurizio Cattelan, known for his provocative and boundary-pushing works, remained deliberately enigmatic about the piece’s meaning. “Comedian” serves both as an object and an idea, challenging viewers to consider the value and purpose of art in a world driven by social media and sensationalism.
Click here for the full story of Maurizio Cattelan’s “Comedian”.
