![]() Who doesn't like free and positive publicity? As long as everyone likes this stunt, who cares if Banksy pulled off the prank all by himself or not. Meanwhile, the auction house has received so much attention from the international media. Sotheby’s declined to disclose the buyer’s identity, but it said in a statement on Saturday that the successful bidder was a private collector, bidding through a Sotheby’s staff member on the phone. In this video, Banksy shows how it was triggered, and that it was supposed to shred itself all the way. Experts estimate Banksy has added at a minimum 50% to its value, possibly as high as being worth £2m or even more. The enigmatic urban artist Banksy made world news yet again when an artwork of his shred itself after being sold at an auction. It is speculated that the half-shredded painting may now have doubled in value. The buyer is more than happy to be the owner of the first work of art that automatically shredded itself after coming under the hammer. The stunt will be remembered as a classic art performed by Banksy, as the artist remarked on his Instagram post with a quote from Picasso, ‘The urge to destroy is also a creative urge.’ Art lovers are impressed by the brilliant prank pulled off by the artist, who poked fun at the excesses of the auction market. ![]() Though there remain many suspicions surrounding the incident, it is undoubtedly a very successful stunt that brought a win-win situation to all parties involved, whether they had prior knowledge or not. Girl With Balloon on a wall in London's West Bank So why didn't anyone notice anything unusual inside the frame when the auction house was examining the artwork or inspecting the artist's signature at the back? If the artist could easily get the shredder built-in the frame without getting notice, should it raise security concern to Sotheby's given that anybody can hide anything dangerous inside an artwork without alarming the auction house? If the work was offered earlier, it would have diverted people attention to the ‘unexpected incident’ and interrupted the auction.īased on the video published by Banksy, the device was not of a small, unnoticeable size. Yet, the painting coincidentally appeared to be the last lot at the auction, which capped off the auction with a much-hyped ending. ![]() ![]() When asked of the prank, Alex Branczik, Sotheby's Senior Director and Head of Contemporary Art, Europe, said: ‘It appears we just got Banksy-ed.’ Branczik insisted that Sotheby’s was ‘not in on the ruse’. His "Girl With Balloon" was originally stenciled on a wall in east London and has been endlessly reproduced, becoming one of Banksy's best-known images.Alex Branczik, Sotheby's Senior Director | Head of Contemporary Art, Europe His mischievous and often satirical images include two policemen kissing, armed riot police with yellow smiley faces and a chimpanzee with a sign bearing the words, "Laugh now, but one day I'll be in charge." He began his career spray-painting buildings in Bristol, England, and has become one of the world's best-known artists. The auction and partial shredding are shown, as is the work being taken off the wall at Sotheby's and carried out of the room.īanksy has never disclosed his full identity. People milling about sipping Champagne and nibbling hors d'oeuvres are next up, including some standing in front of the painting. The nearly 3-minute long video is titled, "Shred the Love, the Director's cut." It shows hands and a hooded figure (Banksy is fond of hoodies) constructing the mechanism in a studio space, then it rolls on to the outside of Sotheby's before the auction. ![]()
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