Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan’s conceptual piece Comic — a banana duct-taped to a wall — was auctioned off for a staggering $6.2 million at Sotheby’s in New York. The paintings, which gained world consideration for its cheeky simplicity, sparked a bidding frenzy. Beginning at $800,000, the value climbed to $5.2 million in simply 5 minutes earlier than a purchaser’s premium pushed the ultimate quantity increased.
The profitable bid got here from Justin Solar, the founding father of the cryptocurrency platform TRON, who made the acquisition utilizing cryptocurrency. Based on Artnet.com, Solar is now tasked with the distinctive duty of changing the banana because it inevitably decays.
Sotheby’s famous that the piece far exceeded its pre-sale excessive estimate of $1.5 million, with aggressive bids coming in from all over the world, each in-person and on-line.
Earlier than the public sale, Sotheby’s shared a video of a member speaking about why the banana artwork piece has captured a lot consideration.
“That is meant to be humorous. It’s an absurdity. It’s a reference to banana peels and vaudeville comedy. There may be a lot on this that’s intensely humorous. And that is step one—recognising the humour. The second step is recognising the import,” the member mentioned.
Based on AP, this isn’t the primary time Comic has induced a stir. When it debuted at Artwork Basel Miami Seashore in 2019, it left festivalgoers debating whether or not it was a satirical jab on the artwork world or a intelligent commentary on the worth we assign to things.
The piece even made headlines when one other artist eliminated the banana and ate it — a second as outrageous because the paintings itself. The paintings induced such a stir that it was finally taken off show. Nevertheless, on the time, three editions had been offered for between $120,000 and $150,000 by the gallery managing the gross sales.
After 5 years, Solar purchased one of many items at a Sotheby’s public sale, shelling out greater than 40 instances the unique value. He additionally reportedly secured a certificates of authenticity, which provides him the official proper to duct-tape a banana to a wall and label it “Comic.”
