Banksy Stunt Leaves Art World in Shreds

British street artist Banksy has played what could be one of the most audacious stunts in art history, arranging for one of his best-known works to self-destruct after being sold at auction for $1.4 million.

"Girl With Balloon" was the final item in an auction at Sotheby’s in London.  Its sale price reached the artist’s previous auction record, and when the hammer came down on the sale, the canvas began to pass through a shredder which had been secretly installed in the frame.

Sotheby’s, which declined to identify the buyer, said in a statement:  “We have talked with the successful purchaser who was surprised by the story. We are in discussion about next steps.”

The next day, Banksy posted a video on his Instagram page which showed a shredder being fitted to the frame of the painting.  It opened with the caption: “A few years ago, I secretly built a shredder into a painting.”  The clip shows a hooded figure putting the finishing touches on the device, before text appears on the screen saying: “In case it was ever put up for auction.”

"Girl With Balloon", which was last year voted the UK’s best-loved work of art, first appeared on a wall in Great Eastern Street in Shoreditch, east London. The 2006 gallery version featured spray paint and acrylic on canvas, mounted on a board.

Website MyArtBroker.com, which resells Banksy pieces, said in a statement:  “Given the media attention this stunt has received, the lucky buyer would see a great return on [what] they paid last night.  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 £2m plus.”