In March 2024, long before Justin Sun dropped $6.2 million to eat a duct-taped banana off a wall, I staged my own fruit-infused masterpiece. Armed with a banana, some tape, and a playful spirit, I created Banana Crimes—a performance art piece that cost me $0.59 and a dose of irreverence.
The setup was simple: me, dressed in a banana costume, a roll of duct tape, and an iPhone 14 Pro Max. The performance begins with a crash. I tape myself to a wall, bite into a banana, and then tape the remains to the wall where I once stood. A quick, one-take commentary on the absurdity of art, ownership, and value.
Shot and minted on Tezos on March 19, 2024, Banana Crimes was my way of poking fun at the world of conceptual art. It wasn’t about grand statements or market value. It was about embracing the fleeting, the ridiculous, and the sticky. The banana, now part of the wall, became the star of the show—left to linger until the moment fades to black.
Fast-forward to Justin Sun’s purchase of Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian at auction. His $6.2 million acquisition gave him the right to duct-tape a banana to any wall and call it art. He then peeled it off and ate it in front of cameras, declaring it an intersection of art, memes, and cryptocurrency culture.
Sure, Sun’s banana came with a certificate of authenticity and a Sotheby’s bid sheet. Mine came with a $0.59 grocery store receipt. But the question remains the same: why do we care so much about a piece of fruit stuck to a wall? Is it the price tag? The absurdity? Or the conversation it sparks?
Banana Crimes was my answer to those questions. Art doesn’t have to come with a sky-high price tag to make a statement—or to make people laugh. Sometimes, all you need is a banana, some duct tape, and the willingness to look ridiculous for the sake of creativity.
You can still collect Banana Crimes on Tezos. It’s out there, just waiting for someone to appreciate its low-budget brilliance.
Watch the full video for Banana Crimes here.
Because sometimes, art isn’t about what you spend. It’s about what sticks. 🍌
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In a playful counter to high-brow art, @aaronv.eth staged "Banana Crimes," a performance that cost $0.59 alongside an off-the-wall message about value and absurdity. Armed with a banana and tape, the piece interrogates art's meaning without hefty price tags. Read more to explore this irreverent take on creativity.