It turns out even the great and mysterious Banksy makes mistakes, as new footage suggests the print that was partially destroyed after being sold in a Sotheby's auction wasn't meant to stop halfway through the shredding process.
On 5 October, Banksy's famous 'Girl with Balloon' print sold at auction for more than £1 million, but just moments after the auctioneer's hammer fell the print was destroyed - by what turned out to be a shredder built into its frame.
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It all turned out to be an elaborate prank set up by the reclusive street artist, who'd clearly set out to shock not only the auction room, but also the person who'd bought the print.
To be fair, I would be pretty horrified to pay £1m for a print, only for it to be destroyed before my very eyes. Then again I'd need to get my hands on a million quid first.
Banksy posted a (now deleted) Instagram video showing how he'd done it all, but new footage posted on the artist's website suggests the prank didn't go quite to plan.
In the video, titled 'Shred the Love: The Directors Cut' - and we see what you did there Banksy - it yet again shows how Banksy installed the shredder into the bottom of the frame, but this time he also shows the moment he pressed the button to set off the shredder, just after the auction, and what should have happened.
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Banksy explains that while practicing the prank, each time the print shredded completely, with the remains falling out of the bottom of the frame - but of course, we all know things don't always go to plan. Here, the print got stuck halfway.
While the auction attendees were still in shock the print - with the shredded half hanging from the bottom - was quickly removed from the room.
A truly comedic moment occurred when a member of the Sotheby's staff said: "Yeah, so the artist put the frame on as well. We get that quite often with Banksy, you know."
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I bet Banksy was howling when he heard that.
Either way, even with the destruction of the print not quite going to plan, it's certainly going to be a prank that will stay with us all - including that poor art-lover who was willing to spend £1 million - forever. Well done Banksy LAD.
Featured Image Credit: BanksyTopics: UK News, News, Funny, Interesting, London, Banksy