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Banksy piece worth $2.7m shreds itself in front of shocked bidders

October 6, 2018

An artwork from the world famous street artist, Banksy, was shredded by its frame shortly after being auctioned in London for over a million pounds.

The artwork, "Girl with a Balloon," from 2006, was auctioned at Sotheby’s auction in London last night, when it "self-destructed."

The piece was the final lot of the sale, and went for £1,042,000 ($2,122,155) with buyer’s premium of £1,367,104 ($2,784,268).

Casterline Goodman Gallery's Robert Casterline told Hypoallergenic there was "complete confusion" and an "alarm inside the frame started going off as the gavel went down."

The artwork "sold for over a million dollars and as we sat there…the painting started moving," he said.

Shortly after, the the canvas was shredded to pieces by the artwork's frame, which was also made by Banksy.

Reports suggest that Banksy himself had pressed the button to "destroy" the piece.

Sotheby's head of contemporary art for Europe Alex Branczik said, "it appears we just got Banksy-ed."

Mr Casterline suspects this act was all part of what the street artist wanted to convey.

"Banksy did it again to the art market that he so despises," he said.

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