In a November 28th post on Twitter/X, Tron’s Justin Sun shared that he plans to buy up to 100,000 bananas from the same fruit stand that produced the iconic duct-taped banana.
The now-popular fruit stand is owned and managed by Shah Alam, located in New York’s Upper East Side. Sun shared that these bananas will be distributed for free worldwide through Alam’s fruit stand.
The Tron founder urged everyone to bring a copy of a valid ID to claim their share of the fruit while supplies last. Sun’s gesture comes after a banana from the same fruit stand sold for $6.2 million at an auction. According to Sun, this gesture aims to celebrate the artwork and promote crypto.
Justin Sun Appreciates Alam’s Art Contribution
On his Twitter/X post, Sun shared that his decision to buy thousands of bananas from Alam’s fruit stand celebrates life and artwork. He also acknowledged Alam’s role in promoting artwork, underscoring his contribution to the iconic artwork that generated millions.
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. https://t.co/jbCnh0u3JI
— H.E. Justin Sun 🍌 (@justinsuntron) November 28, 2024
In the same post, Justin Sun mentioned that this initiative will bring art to a bigger audience and shared his plan to visit the fruit stand in person so he can extend his appreciation.
Sun admitted that the duct-taped banana was ordinary, but it now boasts a deep artistic and cultural impact. Last Wednesday, Alam’s fruit stand sold a banana, which was later turned into an artwork by Maurizio Cattelan.
Catellan’s artwork fetched $6.2 million, with $1 million going to the auction house to cover the fees. Alam sells bananas at 35 cents each.
Like The ‘Comedian,’ Justin Eats His Banana
The story of Catellan’s duct-taped banana artwork started in 2019 when he attended the Art Basel Miami Beach International Art Fair. There were three editions of The Comedian, which fetched $120k and $130k.
The artist would often pull out and eat the banana after each successful auction. Then, the artist would replace the banana, and the “Comedian” performance would continue.
In a separate post, Sun also teased that he would eat the banana on November 29th. The crypto entrepreneur fulfilled this promise, eating a banana in front of influencers and journalists in one of Hong Kong’s top hotels. He also gave a speech, appreciating the artwork and comparing this conceptual art with crypto.
Alam’s Response To The Banana Sale
In an email, Justin Sun shared that Alam’s response moved him. The fruit vendor was happy his role in the duct-taped artwork was appreciated. One report also shared how Alam worked hard to run his fruit stand. It mentioned that the stand is open for 12 hours, four days a week, and then he gets a $12 hourly pay.
The report further added that Alam was distressed and shocked upon learning about the auction’s proceeds. The 74-year-old vendor reportedly asked if the buyer knew that it was just an ordinary banana. Catellan was also moved by the vendor’s reaction to the work and shared that art can also move people in different ways.
Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView