Probashbangla24 online Desk : A stencil spray painting by elusive artist Banksy shredded itself after it was sold for more than £1m.
The framed Girl With Balloon, one of the artist’s best known works, was auctioned by Sotheby’s in London.
The piece which shows a girl reaching towards a heart-shaped balloon was the final work sold at the auction.
However, moments after the piece went under the hammer, the canvas passed through a shredder that was hidden inside the frame.
Posting a picture of the moment on Instagram, Banksy wrote: “Going, going, gone…”
The 2006 piece sold for £1.042m on Friday night.
“It appears we just got Banksy-ed,” said Alex Branczik, Sotheby’s senior director and head of contemporary art in Europe. There was speculation on social media that the prank may have actually caused the artwork to increase in value. Banksy came to prominence through a series of graffiti pieces across the country.
The enigmatic artist is thought to have grown up in Bristol, but his identity has remained a secret despite much speculation over the years.
Among his recent works was the 2015 opening of Dismaland, a Disneyland-esque theme park which he described as a “family theme park unsuitable for children”.
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In 2017, Girl With Balloon, which originally appeared on a wall in Great Eastern Street, London, was voted the nation’s favourite artwork..
The gallery version featured spray paint and acrylic on canvas, mounted on a board.
Were you in Sotheby’s in London when Banksy’s artwork shredded itself? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your pictures, videos and experiences.
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