Street artist Banksy pulled off the ultimate prank as shocked onlookers watched his painting self-destruct just moments after being sold for $1.4 million.
The elusive artist, who is well-known for his elaborate pranks, had signed the well-known piece of art titled “Girl With Balloon,” which sold for more than three times what it was originally estimated to go for, according to Fox News.
The painting of a small child reaching up toward a red heart-shaped balloon sold for a record price for the artist who has has never fully disclosed his identity. Moments after the the hammer came down at Sotheby’s in London, the painting began to go through a shredder embedded in the frame, emerging on the other side in strips.
“It appears we just got Banksy-ed,” Alex Branczik, head of contemporary European art at Sotheby’s, exclaimed.
Onlookers were shocked and photos captured the moment, including one posted by the artist himself on his Instagram account, captioned, “Going, going, gone…”
Sotheby’s indicated that it was “in discussion about next steps” with the person who purchased the very expensive art piece.
“We have not experienced this situation in the past where a painting spontaneously shredded, upon achieving a record for the artist,” Branczik said. “We are busily figuring out what this means in an auction context.”
#Banksy, you are simply brilliant. #GirlWithBalloon #art #streetart #saturdaymorning #Sotheby pic.twitter.com/0kqoZbfZBf
— ?Rocky ? (@RaqCandy) October 6, 2018
“The unexpected incident became instant art world folklore and certainly marks the first time in auction history that a work of art automatically shredded itself after coming under the hammer,” Sotheby’s said in a statement, according to Sky News which reported that, normally, a buyer would not be obligated to finalize a purchase if it is damaged while at the action house.
“But perhaps, now known as the subject of one of the greatest pranks in the art world, Girl With Red Balloon will be worth even more in its shredded state,” Sky News reported.
Smithsonian magazine labeled Banksy a “graffiti master, painter, activist, filmmaker and all-purpose provocateur,” who began his career spray-painting buildings in Bristol, United Kingdom. Fox News noted his other notable pranks including hanging “an image of a spear-toting ancient human pushing a shopping cart” in the British Museum in 2005 where it remained for a few days before being discovered.
The self-destructing art earned the artist new-found admiration on social media.
Watch this Banksy piece self-destruct just moments after being auctioned for more than $1 million.
The trick was using a shredder concealed within the frame.
The timing is perfect.
The mayhem is spectacular.
And Banksy is just brilliant.— Simran Jeet Singh (@SikhProf) October 6, 2018
Did Banksy prank Sotheby’s last night? https://t.co/z0mmT9S1Rd pic.twitter.com/zX9FUxwGCe
— artnet (@artnet) October 6, 2018
The fact that Banksy found a way to have his painting shred itself after selling for 1.4 million dollars just shows how fucking awesome he is pic.twitter.com/NvooO7mOIA
— QueenD ? (@bigdjean) October 6, 2018
The moment iconic Banksy painting Girl With Balloon SELF-DESTRUCTS https://t.co/a12hrtv37Q pic.twitter.com/zCovgSdIR6
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) October 6, 2018
It’s been long since something this great happened. Love Banksy even more than ever pic.twitter.com/OKr7jgVXu2
— Sine-Maria (@sinusmarinus) October 6, 2018
Thanks to @banksy for encouraging us to reflect on the #obscenity of paying (and being able to pay) $1.4M for a painting #inequality pic.twitter.com/qsGw1PWbc5
— Liesl Glover (@Liesl_G) October 6, 2018
Pure brilliance! Banksy is nothing but the greatest artist of our time.
— Philipp Arlt (@arltmiral) October 6, 2018
Now that should be worth a lot more than the original painting for sure. Banksy has something fundamental to say about our culture and values. All perishable.
— Paul Thind (@paul_thind) October 6, 2018
Banksy, always exciting, brilliant, thought-provoking. Love him!
— JAN ? (@Jan_208) October 6, 2018
That is absolutely brilliant!
— Simon Roberts (@Classicalbanksy) October 6, 2018
The half shredding might have increased it’s market value
— James K (@j_ken) October 6, 2018
Banksy nails capitalism.
— name cannot be blank (@Demeisen1) October 6, 2018
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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