Banksy's art self-destructed at auction
Banksy's 'Girl with Balloon' self-shredded at auction in 2018, a bold statement against commercialism that unexpectedly multiplied its value to £18.6 million.
In 2018, street artist Banksy shocked the art world when his iconic painting, 'Girl with Balloon,' shredded itself moments after selling for over £1 million at Sotheby's. A hidden mechanism in the frame activated as the auctioneer's hammer fell, partially destroying the work. This audacious prank highlighted Banksy's critique of the art market's commercialization, turning a high-society event into a spectacle.
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