A stencil spray painting by elusive artist Banksy shredded itself after it was sold for more than £1m. ‘Girl With Balloon’, one of Banksy’s most widely recognised works, was auctioned by Sotheby’s in London. The framed piece shows a girl reaching towards a heart-shaped balloon and was the final work sold at the auction.
However, in a twist to be expected from street art’s most subversive character, the canvas suddenly passed through a shredder installed in the frame.
Posting a picture of the moment on Instagram, Banksy wrote: ‘Going, going, gone…’
The 2006 piece was shown dangling in pieces from the bottom of the frame, after it sold for £1.042m on Friday night.
Banksy, a Bristol-born artist, has never officially revealed his true identity, despite rampant speculation. He came to prominence through a series of graffiti pieces that appeared on buildings, marked by deeply satirical undertones.
Friday’s self-destruction was the latest in a long history of anti-establishment statements by the street artist.
Source: BBC