ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Owner Of £40,000 Banksy Decides To Shred Their Print After Self-Destructing Stunt, Backfires Massively

Owner Of £40,000 Banksy Decides To Shred Their Print After Self-Destructing Stunt, Backfires Massively

One person reportedly took a stanley knife to the expensive piece – which is apparently one of just 600 mint condition prints in the world.

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Following Banksy's particularly devious recent stunt- which saw a print of the artist's 'Girl With Balloon' destroyed immediately after it had been bought for £1 million - other art owners have apparently been trying to replicate the feat, shredding expensive Banksy work in the belief that it will add value... even though it's likely to have to the complete opposite effect. Ouch.

According to the art experts at MyArtBroker.com, the owner of a Banksy print thought to be worth over £40,000 has shredded it themselves, before requesting the print to be listed for a minimum of £80,000.

While Banksy's stunt involved destroying the classic artwork using a remote device, this person reportedly took a stanley knife to the expensive piece - which is apparently one of just 600 mint condition prints in the world.

The folk at MyArtBroker.com believe that the move was 'crazy', and estimate that the piece is now worth about £1. Sucks to be you, pal.

Ian Syer, co-Founder of MyArtBroker.com said: "Banksy is unique to the art world. No other artist captures the hearts and minds of the public like he does.

"However, when Banksy does something crazy like shredding his own artwork, it will naturally have a dramatic affect on values.

"What this person today seems to have done is needlessly ruin a print worth around £40,000 and reduce its value to almost nothing.

MyArtBroker

"We strongly recommend nobody else takes valuable art and tries to cash in on what history will judge a simply brilliant stunt.

"There are limited numbers of Girl With Balloon prints in the world, today, we lost one and it's a crying shame."

Syer believes that only Banksy could really pull off such a stunt with the artwork, which was originally painted by the artist on a wall in Great Eastern Street, London.

Sotheby's auction house - where Banksy's art was sold and swiftly destroyed - has said that it is currently in discussions with the buyer about what to do next. Other than cry, obviously.

Sotheby's European head of contemporary art told the press: "We've just been Banksy'ed.

"He is arguably the greatest British street artist, and tonight we saw a little piece of Banksy genius."

He continued: "The shredding is now part of the integral art work.

"We have not experienced this situation in the past where a painting spontaneously shredded, upon achieving a record for the artist.

"We are busily figuring out what this means in an auction context."

Banksy, meanwhile, took to social media to poke yet more fun, uploading a picture of the shocked crowd inside the auction house, writing: "Going, going, gone..."

Featured Image Credit: MyArtBroker/PA

Topics: News, Art, Banksy