### Viral Banana Artwork Sells for $6.2 Million at Sotheby's Auction

In a stunning turn of events, the infamous banana artwork, originally displayed at the 2019 Art Basel in Miami Beach, fetched an eye-watering $6.2 million at a Sotheby's auction on Wednesday. The piece, titled "Comedian" and crafted by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, gained widespread recognition for its simplicity: a single Dole banana duct-taped to a wall.

The New York Times reported that the high-profile sale attracted a Chinese-born entrepreneur as the buyer. Despite its temporary nature, the artwork comes with a certificate of authenticity and detailed instructions for future owners to replace the banana whenever it begins to rot. This peculiar yet significant detail ensures that the bananas involved in "Comedian" remain fresh, even as the concept endures.

The auction saw brisk and competitive bidding, spanning just five minutes and involving seven participants. Originally listed at a price range between $1 million and $1.5 million, the bidding escalated quickly, pushing the final sale price to $5.2 million, with an additional $1 million in auction house fees.

Back in 2019, the original artwork sold three versions for amounts ranging between $120,000 and $150,000 each. The sale of "Comedian" at such a high price underscores the enduring fascination and value attributed to unconventional art forms.

Interestingly, the market for fruit-themed art isn't limited to contemporary works. A still life basket of strawberries by Jean Siméon Chardin was nearly acquired by a New York dealer for $25 million until the Louvre in Paris intervened to purchase it. Meanwhile, certain actual fruits have commanded staggering prices, such as Yubari King melons selling for $30,000 and Densuke watermelons from Japan fetching up to $6,000.

The sale of "Comedian" is a stark reminder of the unpredictable and often astonishing nature of the art world, where even the most unusual items can achieve monumental value.