A cryptocurrency entrepreneur who recently purchased a conceptual artwork featuring a banana duct-taped to a wall for $6.2 million made headlines again after consuming the fruit in Hong Kong on Friday.
At a press conference held at The Peninsula Hong Kong, one of the city’s most luxurious hotels located in the bustling shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui, Chinese-born Justin Sun removed the duct tape and savoured a banana.
“This variety offers a superior flavour compared to other bananas.” “Indeed, quite good,” he remarked.
“Comedian,” created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, captured significant attention upon its debut in 2019 at Art Basel Miami Beach. Attendees were left pondering whether the solitary yellow banana, secured to a white wall with silver duct tape, was merely a humorous stunt or a provocative critique of the dubious criteria often employed by art collectors. In a surprising turn of events, an artist removed the banana from its display on the wall and consumed it.
The article garnered significant attention, leading to its removal from public display. According to the gallery managing the sales, three editions were sold for prices ranging from $120,000 to $150,000.
In a significant development last week, Justin Sun, the founder of the cryptocurrency platform TRON, emerged victorious in the bidding at a Sotheby’s auction held in New York. Sun acquired a certificate of authenticity in a striking move, granting him the right to affix a banana to a wall with duct tape and label it “Comedian.”
Sun stated that the piece “represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community.”
“I will personally consume the banana as part of this distinctive artistic experience, paying tribute to its significance in art history and popular culture,” he stated.
A South China Morning Post report indicates that the banana consumed on Friday was purchased in Hong Kong.
On Tuesday, Sun revealed to X that he had invested $30 million in World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture U.S. President-elect Donald Trump launched in September.
In a recent post, Sun declared that his platform, TRON, is dedicated to revitalising America and spearheading innovation. After investing in Trump’s venture, he took on the advisor role at World Liberty Financial.
The previous year, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission brought charges against Sun for fraud and various violations of securities laws. In a statement on X, he asserted that the complaint “lacks merit.”