Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun ate a banana from Maurizio Cattelan’s $6.2 million artwork, “Comedian,” at a press conference in Hong Kong. Sun purchased the iconic piece, a banana taped to a wall, at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. During the event, Sun drew parallels between the ephemeral nature of the artwork and the concept of cryptocurrencies and NFTs.
The banana has been eaten twice before, but never by someone who paid for it. Sun’s stunt adds a new chapter to the history of artwork, illustrating the intersection of art and digital assets. Attendees at the conference received a banana and duct tape as a souvenir, symbolizing the piece of art. Sun’s act has sparked discussions about the value and perception of contemporary art and cryptocurrencies.
