Rs 52.34 crore for a banana: Viral duct-taped fruit finds new owner who plans to eat it

The winning bid came from cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun, who emerged victorious after a five-minute bidding war involving seven collectors. Along with the right to display the fruit, Sun receives a certificate of authenticity and installation instructions for replacing the banana once it inevitably rots.

In a statement following his purchase, Sun explained that the piece “represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes and the cryptocurrency community.” In an unexpected twist, the new owner has announced his intentions to “personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honouring its place in both art history and popular culture.”

A man poses for a photo next to a banana attached with duct-tape that replaces the artwork ‘Comedian’ by the artist Maurizio Cattelan, which was eaten by David Datuna, in Miami Beach, Florida, December 7, 2019. (Source: REUTERS/Eva Marie Uzcategui/File Photo)

The artwork’s specifications are precise: a yellow banana must be duct-taped to a white wall exactly 160 centimetres (63 inches) above the ground. Since its debut, the piece has had a colourful history of being consumed by various individuals. Performance artist David Datuna made headlines by eating the banana during its Art Basel display, and in 2023, university student Noh Huyn-soo repeated the act while the work was exhibited at Seoul’s Leeum Museum of Art. He then taped the peel to the wall, according to a BBC report. 

Cattelan, often described as a provocateur in the art world, has defended the piece’s serious intentions. In a 2021 interview with the Art Newspaper, he insisted the work is “not a joke” but rather a “sincere commentary and a reflection on what we value.”

The auction itself was a lively affair, with bidding starting at $800,000 and quickly escalating to millions within minutes. The auctioneer, Oliver Barker, kept the mood light, reportedly joking, “Don’t let it slip away.”

According to a report by Smithsonian Magazine, the sale marks another milestone for ‘Comedian,’ which has already seen three versions sell for between $120,000 and $150,000 each during its initial showing at Art Basel. One of these versions was subsequently donated anonymously to New York City’s Guggenheim Museum.