On Friday, November 29, crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun made headlines in Hong Kong by eating a banana taped to a wall—an artwork he purchased for $6.2 million.
Sun, 34, devoured the fruit in front of reporters, calling it an “iconic” moment and likening it to the conceptual nature of both art and cryptocurrency. “It’s much better than other bananas,” he remarked after taking his first bite. “It’s really quite good.”
The banana, part of an artwork titled Comedian by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was auctioned off at Sotheby’s in New York last week. Sun was one of seven bidders vying for the piece and described feeling “disbelief” in the first moments after winning the bid. He quickly realized the purchase could make waves in both the art and crypto worlds.
“I decided within seconds that I would eat the banana,” Sun revealed. “Eating it at a press conference can also become a part of the artwork’s history.”
The conceptual piece first gained fame at the 2019 Art Basel Miami Beach show, where it sparked debates about what qualifies as art. With Sun’s edible twist, the artwork’s legacy continues to blur the lines between performance, commentary, and provocation.
Comments are closed.