Image of a banana duct-taped to a wall

Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP Images (Comedian); Shutterstock.com (all other images)

Top Banana

Would you believe that a bruised piece of fruit taped to a wall is worth more than $6.2 million? That’s what someone recently paid for a banana and a piece of duct tape. On November 20, this unusual artwork sold to the highest bidder at Sotheby’s, an auction house in New York City.

The artwork, called Comedian, was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. It features an ordinary banana taped to a wall. When the fruit rots or gets eaten, it’s replaced by a fresh banana. Comedian was first displayed at an art fair in Miami, Florida, in 2019.

Cattelan’s creation has led to a debate about what counts as art. After all, the banana that sold for millions at Sotheby’s was bought at a nearby fruit stall for just 35 cents. Some people argue that sparking conversations about art is precisely what makes Comedian special. The buyer, businessman Justin Sun, agrees. 

“I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and become a part of history,” he posted on social media soon after winning the famous fruit. 

For his millions, Sun didn’t just get a banana and duct tape. He also received a certificate of authenticity, which officially gives him the right to re-create the display and call it Comedian. In other words, Sun now owns Cattelan’s idea. The certificate is more important than any banana taped to a wall. In fact, nine days after the auction, Sun displayed the artwork and then untaped the banana and ate it! 

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