In New York, a banana taped to a wall was sold for $6.2 million.

The painting by Belgian surrealist René Magritte titled L'empire des lumières was sold for a record $121 million, while the conceptual artwork Maurizio Cattelan's Comedian, featuring a banana taped to a wall, fetched $6.2 million. This information was reported by Bloomberg and BBC.

At the Christie's auction, Magritte's painting was purchased by an anonymous collector. The $121 million price tag marks the highest ever for any work by this artist. The artwork is part of the Empire of Light series, with a previous piece sold in 2022 for $79.5 million. The canvas was formerly owned by interior designer Miki Ertegun and was put up for sale following her passing.

At the Sotheby's auction, Maurizio Cattelan's conceptual piece, which became an internet sensation, was acquired by TRON cryptocurrency platform founder Justin Sun. He received not only the banana and silver tape but also a certificate of authenticity and instructions for displaying the artwork.

However, Sun stated that he does not plan to keep Comedian for long. Instead, he intends to eat the banana as part of a "unique artistic experience," highlighting its significance in contemporary culture.

These sales affirm the growing interest in surrealist and conceptual art in the international art market.

Previously, it was reported that the banana taped to the wall would be sold at auction, starting at a price of $1 million.

The painting by Belgian surrealist René Magritte, L'empire des lumières