In 2019, a banana taped to a wall caused a stir on social media, reigniting debate about the meaning of art. Artist Maurizio Cattelan’s creation, titled Comedian, became a viral phenomenon. Recently, one of three editions of this work sold for $6.24 million at an auction hosted by Sotheby’s in New York, far exceeding initial estimates of between $1 and 1.5 million.

During the auction, auctioneer Oliver Barker described the piece as “iconic” and “disruptive,” joking about selling a banana at auction. The sale was purchased by Justin Sun, a Chinese collector and founder of a cryptocurrency platform, who commented that the work represents “a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community.” According to Sun, Comedian “will inspire further reflection and debate in the future, becoming part of history.”

Cattelan’s work, which originally consisted of a banana purchased from a Miami store and stuck to a wall, was considered by some to be a conceptual piece that questions the very value of art. At the 2019 Art Basel Miami Beach fair, the piece generated a crowd and was famous for an incident in which artist David Datuna ripped the banana off the wall, peeled it, and ate it in front of stunned attendees, which he defended as performance art.

While many were divided on its artistic value, others saw it as a reflection on what we value in society. This edition sold at the auction was the first time Comedian appeared at auction, having been exhibited at various international venues, including the Leeum Art Museum in Seoul.

Cattelan has commented that the piece is not a joke, but a reflection on what we value as a society. After the sale, Sun, the buyer, expressed his intention to eat the banana, thus continuing the artistic experience that began with the original work.