Banksy - Girl without Balloon
14.02.2025 - 13.04.2025 ,
Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art (MUCA)
- Ticket shop.
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The work, still titled "Girl With Balloon" at the time, was the last lot of Sotheby's prestigious London evening auction in October 2018 and had an estimate of £200,000 - £300,000. After a competitive bidding process, the work was sold for just over £1,000,000. However, shortly after the hammer fell on the final bid, a siren sounded amidst the hustle and bustle of the auction room and the painting spectacularly began to shred through the bottom of its frame. After the painting was cut in half, it was taken away by excited staff and a media frenzy began, fuelled by Banksy's use of social media.
The shredded artwork symbolises the idea that not only the parameters of art, but perhaps also the social structure of today or tomorrow can be redefined.
Last edited on 14.04.2025
