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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/oct/06/banksy-sothebys-auction-prank-leaves-art-world-in-shreds-girl-with-balloon
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Banksy auction prank leaves art world in shreds | Banksy auction prank leaves art world in shreds |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Banksy has played what could be one of the most audacious pranks in art history, arranging for one of his best-known works to self-destruct after being sold at auction for just over £1m. | Banksy has played what could be one of the most audacious pranks in art history, arranging for one of his best-known works to self-destruct after being sold at auction for just over £1m. |
| Girl With Balloon was the final item in an auction at Sotheby’s in London on Friday night and its sale price equalled the artist’s previous auction record of £1.04m. | Girl With Balloon was the final item in an auction at Sotheby’s in London on Friday night and its sale price equalled the artist’s previous auction record of £1.04m. |
| Shortly after the hammer came down on the item, however, the canvas began to pass through a shredder installed in the frame. | Shortly after the hammer came down on the item, however, the canvas began to pass through a shredder installed in the frame. |
| Banksy posted an image on Instagram of the shredded work dangling from the bottom of the frame with the title “Going, going, gone … ” | Banksy posted an image on Instagram of the shredded work dangling from the bottom of the frame with the title “Going, going, gone … ” |
| Going, going, gone... | Going, going, gone... |
| A post shared by Banksy (@banksy) on Oct 5, 2018 at 6:45pm PDT | A post shared by Banksy (@banksy) on Oct 5, 2018 at 6:45pm PDT |
| “It appears we just got Banksy-ed,” said Alex Branczik, Sotheby’s senior director and head of contemporary art in Europe. | “It appears we just got Banksy-ed,” said Alex Branczik, Sotheby’s senior director and head of contemporary art in Europe. |
| Sotheby’s said in a statement to the Financial Times: “We have talked with the successful purchaser who was surprised by the story. We are in discussion about next steps.” | Sotheby’s said in a statement to the Financial Times: “We have talked with the successful purchaser who was surprised by the story. We are in discussion about next steps.” |
| The auction house declined to reveal the identity of the buyer. | The auction house declined to reveal the identity of the buyer. |
| It is unclear whether the prank will have destroyed or enhanced the value of the work. | It is unclear whether the prank will have destroyed or enhanced the value of the work. |
| The website MyArtBroker.com, which resells Banksy pieces, said Girl with Balloon had enjoyed annual increases in value of about 20% in recent years. “Prices now are regularly exceeding £115,000 for signed authenticated prints,” said its co-founder Joey Syer. | The website MyArtBroker.com, which resells Banksy pieces, said Girl with Balloon had enjoyed annual increases in value of about 20% in recent years. “Prices now are regularly exceeding £115,000 for signed authenticated prints,” said its co-founder Joey Syer. |
| “The auction result will only propel this further and given the media attention this stunt has received, the lucky buyer would see a great return on the £1.02m they paid last night. | “The auction result will only propel this further and given the media attention this stunt has received, the lucky buyer would see a great return on the £1.02m they paid last night. |
| “This is now part of art history in its shredded state and we’d estimate Banksy has added at a minimum 50% to its value, possibly as high as being worth £2m plus.” | “This is now part of art history in its shredded state and we’d estimate Banksy has added at a minimum 50% to its value, possibly as high as being worth £2m plus.” |
| Girl With Balloon, which was last year voted the UK’s best-loved work of art, first appeared on a wall in Great Eastern Street in Shoreditch, east London. The 2006 gallery version featured spray paint and acrylic on canvas, mounted on a board. | |
| The true identity of the Bristol-born artist has never been officially revealed despite wide speculation. | The true identity of the Bristol-born artist has never been officially revealed despite wide speculation. |
| He rose to fame with graffiti that appeared on buildings across the UK, often marked by deeply satirical undertones. | He rose to fame with graffiti that appeared on buildings across the UK, often marked by deeply satirical undertones. |
| Two new artworks appeared at the Barbican Centre in central London in September 2017 inspired by an upcoming Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibition. | Two new artworks appeared at the Barbican Centre in central London in September 2017 inspired by an upcoming Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibition. |
| Announcing the new artworks in a series of Instagram posts, the artist said: “Major new Basquiat show opens at the Barbican – a place that is normally very keen to clean any graffiti from its walls.” The work has since been protected by perspex panes. | Announcing the new artworks in a series of Instagram posts, the artist said: “Major new Basquiat show opens at the Barbican – a place that is normally very keen to clean any graffiti from its walls.” The work has since been protected by perspex panes. |
| One of Banksy’s more elaborate jokes came just over three years ago when he opened Dismaland, a “family theme park unsuitable for small children”, on the seafront at Weston-super-Mare. | One of Banksy’s more elaborate jokes came just over three years ago when he opened Dismaland, a “family theme park unsuitable for small children”, on the seafront at Weston-super-Mare. |
| The Guardian described it at the time as “sometimes hilarious, sometimes eye-opening and occasionally breathtakingly shocking”. | The Guardian described it at the time as “sometimes hilarious, sometimes eye-opening and occasionally breathtakingly shocking”. |
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