Banana artwork: What is famous duct-taped art piece that sold for millions?

Comedian is an artwork consisting of a azygous banana stuck to a partition with duct-tape and has been sold astatine auction connected respective occasions arsenic good arsenic having been eaten successful brazen displays

A provocative duct-tape banana artwork has sold for millions of dollars astatine auction - but what is it and wherefore is it famous?

The banana duct-taped to a wall was sold yesterday astatine Sotheby's successful New York for a whopping $6.2million (£4.9million). Maurizio Cattelan's creation portion is understood to person been bought by Justin Sun, a Chinese entrepreneur and cryptocurrency mogul.

Following the auction, Justin is reported to person said: "In the coming days, I volition personally devour the banana arsenic portion of this unsocial creator experience." The banana became 1 of the astir costly fruits ever, having been bought earlier successful the time for conscionable 35 cents (27p).

But what is the viral banana artwork that has been trending online and wherefore was it truthful sought after?

The banana artwork's sanction is Comedian and was created by Italian Maurizio successful 2019. The conceptual art portion is deliberately provocative and is 1 of respective of Maurizio's creations to person a tongue-in-cheek meaning.

It has sparked contention with reviewers and writers with Robin Pogrebin questioning if the portion was really art. Comedian has been displayed each astir the world with instructions being fixed astir what to bash erstwhile the banana yet rots.

In 1 bizarre instance, Comedian was removed from an creation just connected December 8, 2019, arsenic curators feared it could beryllium damaged by crowds. Following the removal the from the Perrotin gallery, curators said successful a statement: "Comedian, with its elemental composition, yet offered a analyzable reflection of ourselves.

"We would similar to warmly convey each those who participated successful this memorable adventure, arsenic good arsenic our colleagues. We sincerely apologize to each the visitors to the just who contiguous volition not beryllium capable to enactment successful Comedian.”

Comedian has been sold respective times, with Sarah Andelman, a Colette founder, buying 1 edition. One variation was donated by Maurizio to the Guggenheim Museum successful Manhattan with circumstantial acquisition astir however to show it.

The creation portion has besides been eaten antecedently with brazen show creator David Datuna gobbling it up successful from of outraged onlookers. David peeled the duct portion disconnected the partition past proceeded to devour the banana.

Emmanuel Perrotin told CBS News successful 2019 that Maurizio's enactment is astir however objects determination done the world. He added: "Whether affixed to the partition of an creation just booth oregon displayed connected the screen of the New York Post, his enactment forces america to question however worth is placed connected worldly goods. The spectacle is arsenic overmuch a portion of the enactment arsenic the banana."

Perrotin continued, adding a borrowed replacement banana was past re-attached to the wall. Explaining his artwork, Maurizio antecedently said: "Wherever I was travelling I had this banana connected the wall. I couldn't fig retired however to decorativeness it. In the end, 1 time I woke up and I said 'the banana is expected to beryllium a banana'."