Crypto tycoon Justin Sun gobbled up an art piece – literally.
He wolfed down a banana duct-taped to a wall that cost him a whopping 6.2 million dollars (£4.9 million) during a swanky press event in Hong Kong. The Chinese entrepreneur munched on the pricey fruit at The Peninsula, one of Hong Kong’s poshest hotels in the bustling Tsim Sha Tsui district.
After savouring his expensive snack, Sun quipped: “It tastes much better than other bananas. Indeed, quite good,” amidst flashes of cameras. This wasn’t your average banana, mind you; it was part of a conceptual artwork titled Comedian by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, which set tongues wagging at Art Basel Miami Beach back in 2019.
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(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The high-brow crowd couldn’t decide if it was a giant prank or a savvy critique of the art collectors’ world, starring a single yellow banana taped to a white wall.
The artwork was so provocative that it had to be pulled from the exhibition as fuss peaked, yet not before three editions got snapped up for up to 150 grand apiece.
Crypto kingpin and Tron platform founder, Mr Sun dazzled the auction scene last week with his winning offer at Sotheby’s in New York.
But what he really bagged was a certificate granting him rights to recreate the snack-cum-sculpture known as Comedian, allowing him to stick a banana on any wall and call it art.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
In a recent statement, Sun claimed this cultural gem bridged the gap between art, internet memes, and the crypto community.
“I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honouring its place in both art history and popular culture,” he declared. The South China Morning Post revealed that the banana he consumed on Friday was purchased in Hong Kong.
On Tuesday, Mr Sun announced on X that he had invested a whopping 30 million dollars in World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture launched by US President-elect Donald Trump in September. In his post, Mr Sun stated his platform is “committed to making America great again and leading innovation”.
After his investment in Trump’s venture, he secured a position as an adviser of World Liberty Financial. However, last year, Mr Sun faced charges from the US Securities and Exchange Commission for fraud and other securities law violations.
He responded to these allegations on X, stating the complaint “lacks merit.”
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