Emily Walker
On November 28, Justin Sun from Tron announced via Twitter/X his intention to purchase 100,000 bananas from the renowned fruit stand that sold the famous duct-taped banana.
This popular stand, located in New York’s Upper East Side, is run by Shah Alam. Sun intends to distribute these bananas free of charge worldwide through Alam’s stand.
To collect a banana, individuals must present a valid ID while supplies last. This initiative follows the sale of a banana from Alam’s stand, which fetched $6.2 million at auction. Sun’s project is designed to celebrate the art represented by the banana and advocate for cryptocurrency.
Justin Sun Honors Alam’s Artistic Influence
In his post, Sun expressed that buying these bananas from Alam’s fruit stand is a way to honor life and artistry. He recognized Alam’s vital contribution to the artwork that gained enormous fame and monetary value.
To thank Mr. Shah Alam, I’ve decided to buy 100,000 bananas from his stand in New York’s Upper East Side. These bananas will be distributed free worldwide through his stand. Show a valid ID to claim one banana, while supplies last.
— H.E. Justin Sun
(@justinsuntron) November 28, 2024
Sun mentioned that the effort aims at making art more accessible and plans to visit the fruit stand himself to express his gratitude personally.
He stated that although the duct-taped banana was an everyday item, it now carries significant artistic and cultural significance. Recently, Alam’s stand sold this banana, which was transformed into a piece by Maurizio Cattelan.
Cattelan’s artwork garnered $6.2 million, with a $1 million fee going to the auction house. Alam’s bananas are sold at a price of 35 cents each.
Justin Enjoys His Banana Like ‘The Comedian’
The narrative of Cattelan’s duct-taped banana began at the 2019 Art Basel Miami Beach International Art Fair. There were three different editions of “The Comedian,” selling for around $120k and $130k each.
Following successful auctions, the artist routinely ate a banana, only to replace it for subsequent performances, continuing the “Comedian” act.
In another post, Sun hinted that he would eat a banana on November 29. He fulfilled this promise by consuming a banana at a prestigious hotel in Hong Kong, surrounded by influencers and journalists, while delivering a speech that linked this conceptual art to the crypto world.
Alam’s Reaction to the Banana Auction
Justin Sun relayed that Alam’s emotional response deeply touched him. The fruit vendor expressed joy in being recognized for his role in the duct-taped art. A report highlighted Alam’s hard work running his fruit stand, operating for 12 hours across four days, earning $12 per hour.
Additionally, Alam was reportedly bewildered and amazed upon learning of the auction proceeds, questioning whether the buyer understood it was just a conventional banana. The vendor’s reaction also resonated with Cattelan, who remarked how art can impact individuals differently.
Featured image sourced from Pexels, chart provided by TradingView