This is how its owner consumed the most expensive banana in history: a digestion of 6.2 million dollars

The entrepreneur Justin Sun, founder of the cryptocurrency platform Tron and owner of a banana taped to a wall that he purchased for $6.2 million in recent days, gave his property the most logical of uses: he ate it.

At a public event held in a luxury hotel in Hong Kong, the Chinese collector chose to devour the iconic artwork titled "Comedian," created by the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.

“It’s quite good, better than the others,” she said about the controversial conceptual artwork.

Surrounded by journalists and influencers, Sun delivered a speech in which he described the work as "iconic" and drew parallels between conceptual art and the world of cryptocurrencies.

Then, he took a bite of the banana and declared, "It's really good," a statement that drew laughter and surprised those present.

For Sun, the act of consuming the work is also a way of participating in the history of conceptual art.

"Eating it during a press conference could also be part of the story of this work of art," he explained.

The origin of "Comedian" and its impact

The work, exhibited for the first time in 2019 during the Art Basel fair in Miami, challenges the boundaries of traditional art.

It consists of a fresh banana stuck to the wall with adhesive tape, and its purpose is to challenge notions of value and materiality in art.

According to the rules of the work, the buyer receives a certificate of authenticity along with instructions for replacing the banana as it deteriorates.

Since its inception, "Comediante" has sparked controversies.

Some critics view it as a symbol of the absurd in contemporary art, while others praise it as an intelligent provocation regarding the concepts of value and permanence.

A connection with cryptocurrencies and NFTs

During the event, Justin Sun linked the meaning of "Comedian" to the universe of NFTs and blockchain technology.

"Most of these objects and ideas exist as intellectual property and online, rather than being something physical," she noted, highlighting how both conceptual art and digital assets represent ideas more than tangible items.

Its action reinforces the connection between the ephemeral and the value that society assigns to intangible elements.

The original seller of the banana and a symbolic gesture.

Interestingly, the banana used in the artwork was originally purchased by a Bangladeshi employee at a fruit stand in New York for just 25 cents.

After winning the auction at Sotheby’s, Justin Sun announced on social media his intention to buy 100,000 bananas from the same vendor and distribute them for free around the world, an idea that, according to the seller, is more complex than it seems.

Mohammad Alam, the original banana vendor, noted that while he appreciates the gesture, the logistics of acquiring and transporting such a large quantity of fruit pose a significant challenge.

"Undoubtedly, it is an inequality," commented his brother, using a Bangladeshi saying to describe the disparity: "It is the difference between heaven and hell."

For many, Sun's act of consuming "Comediante" adds a new layer of meaning to the work, transforming it into an act that questions not only the value of art but also its role in modern society.

While some believe that the gesture trivializes the piece, others argue that it completes its cycle and reinforces its message.

Frequently Asked Questions about the artwork "Comediante" and its meaning