Justin Sun, the Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur who bought the work “Comedian” – a banana stuck to the wall with glue – ate the “opera”, writes SCMP.
Justin Sun, the entrepreneur who bought the work “Comedian”/PHOTO: Video capture X
On November 20, Justin Sun bought the work “Comedian” by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan for $6.2 million. About the work he created five years ago, Cattelan says it is a “challenge” in the art world.
The Chinese businessman called the work a cultural phenomenon “that connects the worlds of art, memes and the cryptocurrency community“. He immediately promised to eat the banana soon “as part of this unique artistic experience, paying homage to its place in both art history and popular culture“.
He testifies on the official account and what it tastes like, associating it with the Gros Michel, or “Big Mike” variety, popular in the 50s.
“Many friends have asked me about the taste of bananas. To be honest, for a banana with such a story, the taste is naturally different from a regular one. We could discern a hint of what Big Mike’s bananas might have tasted like 100 years ago.”he said.
The work, which ended up being worth millions of dollars, cost the artist only 25 cents. After the work was exhibited, Galeria Perrotin sold three of Cattelan’s bananas for between $120,000 and $150,000 each.
Another artist, David Datuna, ate another banana on display in the gallery.
“It is the market that decided to take a banana stuck to the wall so seriously. If the system is so fragile that it would slide on a banana peel, maybe it was already slippery“, added Cattelan.
Maurizio Cattelan (64) is an Italian artist known for his hyperrealistic works.
“‘Comedian’ is a laugh against a tired system, an invitation to rediscover the power of irony and simplicity”the artist declared.
