Main image via Sky News
British graffiti artist, Banksy, has pulled what could be one of the most daring stunts in art history. He shredded his own art after it was bought.
Banksy's "Girl With Balloon" was the final item on auction at Sotheby's, an auction house, and was sold for just over £1 million (RM5.4 million) when the artwork self-destructed.
via GIPHY
Shortly after the hammer came down on the item, the canvas began to pass through a shredder that Banksy explained, was in the frame. Clearly, everyone present was shocked.
The artist posted an image of the shredded work, hanging halfway out of its frame, and captioned the Instagram post with, "Going, going, gone..."
Banksy posted again, this time a video, where he explained that he had secretly installed a shredder in the frame of the painting a few years ago. The intent was to destroy the painting if it ever went up for auction. And that's exactly what happened.
Known for creating satirical and subversive political art, Banksy essentially turned the auction itself into a work of art by shredding the painting. He quoted Picasso in the Instagram post saying, "The urge to destroy is also a creative urge."
Sotheby's described the painting as a "framed work, spray paint and acrylic on canvas". The auction house also noted that this was "the first time in auction history that a work of art automatically shredded itself".
Sotheby's senior director and head of contemporary art in Europe, Alex Branczik, said, "It appears we just got Banksy-ed." They certainly did.
But is it a destroyed work of art? Joey Syer, co-founder of MyArtBroker.com, which resells Banksy pieces, think otherwise.
"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 £2 million (RM10.8 million) plus."
via GIPHY
Can you imagine seeing an artwork self-destruct right in front of you? What would you do?
Info via The Verge and The Guardian
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