A Banksy auction joke leaves the art world in tatters | Art and design



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Banksy played what could be one of the most daring jokes in the history of art, one of his best-known works self-destructing after being sold. auction for just over a million pounds sterling.

Girl With Balloon was the last object of an auction at Sotheby's in London on Friday night and its sale price equaled the artist's previous sales record of £ 1.04m.

However, shortly after the hammer fell on the object, the canvas suddenly passed through a chipper installed in the frame.

Banksy has posted on Instagram an image of shredded work hanging at the bottom of the frame with the title "Going, go, gone …"

"It seems like we just got Banksy-ed," said Alex Branczik, Sotheby's senior director and head of contemporary art in Europe.

It is not known if the joke will have destroyed or improved the value of the work.

Sotheby's said in a statement to the Financial Times: "We talked to the successful buyer, who was surprised by the story. We discuss next steps. "

Girl With Balloon first appeared on a wall of Great Eastern Street in Shoreditch, East London. The 2006 version of the gallery included spray paint and acrylic on canvas, mounted on a blackboard.

The true identity of the artist born in Bristol has never been officially revealed, despite many speculations.

He made himself known by graffiti appearing on buildings across the UK, often marked by deeply satirical nuances.

In September 2017, two new works by Banksy were presented at the Barbican Center in central London, inspired by an upcoming exhibition by Jean-Michel Basquiat.





A woman passes one of Banksy's murals near the Barbican Center.



A woman passes one of Banksy's murals near the Barbican Center. Photography: David Mirzoeff / PA

Announcing the new works in a series of publications on Instagram, the artist said: "A new great show from Basquiat opens to the Barbican – a place that is normally very prone to clean all the graffiti from its walls." plexiglass.

One of Banksy's most elaborate jokes took place a little over three years ago, when he opened Dismaland – a "family theme park unsuitable for small children" – on the Weston-super waterfront. -Mare.





People visit Dismaland.



People visit Dismaland. A photograph: Natasha Quarmby / Rex / Shutterstock

The Guardian at the time described it as "sometimes hilarious, sometimes revealing and sometimes breathtaking".

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