Did the art world just get Banksy-ed or did Banksy get out Banksy-ed by the art world?
The world's most famous unknown artist, Banksy, revealed how he pulled off his latest prank on the high art society by building a shredder into the frame of his piece Girl with a Balloon. As soon as the gavel went down at a Sotheby's auction with a sale price of over a million dollars an alarm went off and the painting self destructed through the shredder.
The art world was stunned by the destruction of the piece, but did Banksy know the artwork would immediately become worth nearly 50% more once the stunt went worldwide? We many never know.
He did leave one clue in an Instagram post captioning a video of the painting being destroyed with this quote:
The urge to destroy is also a creative urge — Picasso
He then shared a video that begins with the words:
A few years ago, I secretly built a shredder into a painting ... in case it was ever put up for auction.
No one knows for sure, if Banksy knew the price of the painting would go up, but certainly people have a lot of theories and ideas.
Banksy’s shredded painting was meant to poke fun at the excesses of the art auction market. But it could end up sen… https://t.co/7C9GVzEArQ— The New York Times (@The New York Times) 1538991007.0
The stunt definitely had people talking.
@BBC The moment Banksy increased his profile and the value of the 'work'.— Curtis Tigers (@Curtis Tigers) 1538991635.0
@BBC @cookin1182 Insanity. Pure and Simple.— Tiny Prepper (@Tiny Prepper) 1539002071.0
@BBC #WhatAWaste In the state of todays world with so many homeless and poverty would have been better to donate th… https://t.co/QAap9XFtdC— caroline tait (@caroline tait) 1538994559.0
There are a lot of theories out there.
@BBC Interestingly.... The blades appear to be 90 degrees to the cutting plane! Batteries and motor would, you assu… https://t.co/eurtAHntjk— NorthernLivesMatter (@NorthernLivesMatter) 1538992898.0
@Brrrexit @BBC Made in the UK, auctioned in the UK. No, never anywhere else.— The Letter Writer (@The Letter Writer) 1539008112.0
@scott71505056 @BBC Morons with more money than sense. Emporers New Clothes— PATCHEStheRAFguy (@PATCHEStheRAFguy) 1539002079.0
We may never know the truth and that is half the fun.
H/T: Indy100, The Independent
Best Man's Inappropriate Comments About Bridesmaid Caught On Groom's Mic In Cringey Video