The Chinese pay almost 40 million reais for a banana stuck on the wall

A work by the Italian Maurizio Cattelan has been auctioned in New York

A collector paid 6.2 million dollars (R$36 million) to buy a work of art by the Italian Maurizio Cattelan, consisting of a banana stuck to the wall with adhesive tape, auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York last Wednesday (20th).

The buyer is Chinese businessman Justin Sun, founder of the Tron cryptocurrency platform, who announced that he will “eat banana” in the coming days.

“I am thrilled to share that I have acquired Maurizio Cattelan’s iconic work. It is not just a work of art; it represents a cultural phenomenon that unites the world of art, memes and the cryptocurrency community,” wrote the millionaire on X.

“I am honored to be the proud owner of the banana and hope that it can spread even more inspiration and impact to art enthusiasts around the world. Additionally, in the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique art experience,” he added.

Called “Comedian”, the work caused a sensation at the Art Basel Miami Beach fair in 2019 and its certificate was sold at the time for $120,000 (R$697,000). Last year, the work came back into the spotlight after a South Korean student ate a banana that was on display in a Seoul museum.

Cattelan is known for his ironic and questioning style, and “Comedian” is interpreted as a criticism of the excesses of the art world, of which the New York auction is another example.

Sotheby’s had estimated the value of the work between $1 million and $1.5 million (between R$5.8 million and R$8.7 million). Sun will receive a piece of tape, a banana, a certificate of authenticity and instructions for installing the “Comedian”.

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Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.