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Banksy artwork shreds itself after £1m sale at Sotheby's Banksy posts video of £1m painting shredding stunt at Sotheby's
(about 4 hours later)
A stencil spray painting by elusive artist Banksy shredded itself after it was sold for more than £1m. Banksy has released a video showing how he secretly built a shredder into one of his paintings that self-destructed after it was sold for more than £1m.
The framed Girl With Balloon, one of the artist's best known works, was auctioned by Sotheby's in London.The framed Girl With Balloon, one of the artist's best known works, was auctioned by Sotheby's in London.
The piece which shows a girl reaching towards a heart-shaped balloon was the final work sold at the auction. Moments after the piece was sold, the canvas of a girl reaching for a heart-shaped balloon shredded itself.
However, moments after the piece went under the hammer, the canvas passed through a shredder that was hidden inside the frame. Quoting Picasso on his Instagram, Banksy wrote: "The urge to destroy is also a creative urge - Picasso."
Posting a picture of the moment on Instagram, Banksy wrote: "Going, going, gone..." The clip starts with a caption, saying: "A few years ago, I secretly built a shredder into a painting."
The 2006 piece sold for £1.042m on Friday night. The video then shows someone in a hoodie installing the device, before another caption, saying: "In case it was ever put up for auction."
The video then shows the moment the painting shredded itself at the auction house on Friday, captured on a mobile phone.
'We just got Banksy-ed'
Moments before, the 2006 stencilled spray-painting had sold for £1.042m.
"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.
Earlier, Banksy posted a picture of the moment it happened on his Instagram, with the words: "Going, going, gone..."
John Brandler, director of Brandler Art Galleries, described Banksy as "the ultimate publicity artist" and said the stunt was "absolutely brilliant".John Brandler, director of Brandler Art Galleries, described Banksy as "the ultimate publicity artist" and said the stunt was "absolutely brilliant".
"He has made Damien Hirst look like an amateur," Mr Brandler said."He has made Damien Hirst look like an amateur," Mr Brandler said.
Banksy rose to prominence through a series of graffiti pieces across the country.Banksy rose to prominence through a series of graffiti pieces across the country.
The enigmatic artist is thought to have grown up in Bristol, but his identity has remained a secret despite much speculation over the years.The enigmatic artist is thought to have grown up in Bristol, but his identity has remained a secret despite much speculation over the years.
Among his recent works was the 2015 opening of Dismaland, a Disneyland-esque attraction at a lido in Weston-super-Mare, which he described as a "family theme park unsuitable for children".Among his recent works was the 2015 opening of Dismaland, a Disneyland-esque attraction at a lido in Weston-super-Mare, which he described as a "family theme park unsuitable for children".
In 2017, Girl With Balloon, which originally appeared on a wall in Great Eastern Street, London, was voted the nation's favourite artwork.In 2017, Girl With Balloon, which originally appeared on a wall in Great Eastern Street, London, was voted the nation's favourite artwork.
The gallery version featured spray paint and acrylic on canvas, mounted on a board.The gallery version featured spray paint and acrylic on canvas, mounted on a board.
Does the buyer still have to pay?Does the buyer still have to pay?
Sotheby's has not revealed who bought the piece before it was shredded.Sotheby's has not revealed who bought the piece before it was shredded.
At the moment it is unclear whether their contract still stands.At the moment it is unclear whether their contract still stands.
Mr Branczik told the Financial Times the auction house was trying to "figure out" what the stunt means.Mr Branczik told the Financial Times the auction house was trying to "figure out" what the stunt means.
He said: "We have not experienced this situation in the past ...where a painting spontaneously shredded, upon achieving a [near-]record for the artist.He said: "We have not experienced this situation in the past ...where a painting spontaneously shredded, upon achieving a [near-]record for the artist.
"We are busily figuring out what this means in an auction context.""We are busily figuring out what this means in an auction context."
Will it be worth more now, or is it ruined?Will it be worth more now, or is it ruined?
Opinion is split.Opinion is split.
Some social media posters have speculated that the prank could have actually caused the artwork to increase in value.Some social media posters have speculated that the prank could have actually caused the artwork to increase in value.
However, others have questioned whether the buyer would still have to pay for it - or would even want to.However, others have questioned whether the buyer would still have to pay for it - or would even want to.
Mr Brandler said the more publicity works of art get, the pricier they tend to become.Mr Brandler said the more publicity works of art get, the pricier they tend to become.
"It was the best publicity stunt he [Banksy] could think of," he said."It was the best publicity stunt he [Banksy] could think of," he said.
Was it all just a hoax?Was it all just a hoax?
There have been some suggestions Sotheby's may have been in on the stunt.There have been some suggestions Sotheby's may have been in on the stunt.
However, there has been no confirmation of that from the auction house.However, there has been no confirmation of that from the auction house.
In a statement on its website, it described the incident as "unexpected" and said it had become "instant art world history".In a statement on its website, it described the incident as "unexpected" and said it had become "instant art world history".
The mystery continues.The mystery continues.
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Were you in Sotheby's in London when Banksy's artwork shredded itself? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your pictures, videos and experiences.Were you in Sotheby's in London when Banksy's artwork shredded itself? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your pictures, videos and experiences.
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