World’s most expensive duct-taped banana: Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork sells for over $6.2 million at Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s noted that the portion acold exceeded its pre-sale precocious estimation of $1.5 million, with competitory bids coming successful from astir the world, some in-person and online.

Before the auction, Sotheby’s shared a video of a subordinate talking astir wherefore the banana creation portion has captured truthful overmuch attention.

“This is meant to beryllium funny. It is an absurdity. It is simply a notation to banana peels and vaudeville comedy. There is truthful overmuch successful this that is intensely humorous. And that is the archetypal step—recognising the humour. The 2nd measurement is recognising the import,” the subordinate said.

According to AP, this isn’t the archetypal clip Comedian has caused a stir. When it debuted astatine Art Basel Miami Beach successful 2019, it near festivalgoers debating whether it was a satirical jab astatine the creation satellite oregon a clever commentary connected the worth we delegate to objects.

The portion adjacent made headlines erstwhile different creator removed the banana and ate it — a infinitesimal arsenic outrageous arsenic the artwork itself. The artwork caused specified a disturbance that it was yet taken disconnected display. However, astatine the time, 3 editions were sold for betwixt $120,000 and $150,000 done the assemblage managing the sales.

After 5 years, Sun bought 1 of the pieces astatine a Sotheby’s auction, shelling retired much than 40 times the archetypal price. He besides reportedly secured a certificate of authenticity, which gives him the authoritative close to duct-tape a banana to a partition and statement it “Comedian.”