Interesting things keep happening all around the world, and one of them involves a cryptocurrency entrepreneur, Justin Sun, who transformed an iconic art piece into an unexpected snack by eating a banana artwork valued at $6.2 million.
The artwork, “Comedian”, which was made by an Italian artist, Maurizio Cattelan, consists of a banana duct-taped to a wall. The artwork has become notorious in the art world for challenging conventional definitions of art. Sun purchased the piece at a Sotheby’s auction, outbidding six other potential buyers.
Many friends have asked me about the taste of the banana. To be honest, for a banana with such a back story, the taste is naturally different from an ordinary one. I could discern a hint of what Big Mike bananas from 100 years ago might have tasted like.
— H.E. Justin Sunpic.twitter.com/Sz6zaePGpv
During a press conference at Hong Kong’s Peninsula Hotel, Sun dramatically consumed the banana in front of journalists and influencers. “It’s much better than other bananas,” he declared, drawing parallels between the conceptual artwork and cryptocurrency’s Non-fungible Token (NFT).
This isn’t the first time the artwork has been eaten. Previous performances by other individuals have similarly challenged the artwork’s meaning and value. Sun sees his act as part of the piece’s evolving narrative, suggesting that consuming it becomes part of its artistic history.
Read also: Zimbabwe launches AI-powered traffic system to tackle traffic congestion
Beyond the theatrical banana consumption, Sun also made waves by announcing a $30 million investment in a cryptocurrency project associated with former US President Donald Trump. This comes amid ongoing legal challenges from the US Securities and Exchange Commission regarding his crypto platform, Tron.
In a gesture of goodwill, Sun pledged to purchase 100,000 bananas from the original fruit vendor, who originally sold the banana for less than a dollar, promising to distribute them globally as a “celebration of the connection between everyday life and art.”
