Banksy Shreds Painting After It's Auctioned Off

[Isabeau]

Banksy auction prank leaves art world in shreds

 

[Adeon Writer]

“This is now part of art history in its shredded state and we’d estimate Banksy has added at a minimum 50% to its value, possibly as high as being worth £2m plus.”

 

[Isabeau]

True. But I don't think he was out to rip off anyone nor was he out for vengeance. He was simply making a statement about art and auctions, no?

 

[Blaise Glendevon]

If I wanna get worked, I'll watch pro wrestling, thanks.

 

[GradyE]

Traditional art with a conceptual/performance art component by a (beloved?) world famous artist combined with a cunning manipulation of the international art market. What's not to like?

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

True. But I don't think he was out to rip off anyone nor was he out for vengeance. He was simply making a statement about art and auctions, no?

If the statement was "buy my art and I'll instantly appreciate your investment by half again", I'd bet art collectors are eagerly looking forward to hearing from Banksy again soon.

 

[Adeon Writer]

True. But I don't think he was out to rip off anyone nor was he out for vengeance. He was simply making a statement about art and auctions, no?

I'm pretty sure no one would complain if the winning bid decided he no longer wanted to pay up.

But I'm sure he actually made out with easy money.

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

I'm pretty sure no one would complain if the winning bid decided he no longer wanted to pay up.

But I'm sure he actually made out with easy money.

Yup, and that's kind of the kicker I think. If it was meant to be a practical joke on whoever won the auction, or a statement that art buyers or auctions are "destroying" art in a way, or that art collectors don't appreciate art for the right reasons, I think the performance only succeeds if the winner DOES say "oh no it's ruined now, I won't accept it". But if that doesn't happen - if the winner agrees with Sotheby's and thinks the piece is not only still valuable but is worth even more after having been shredded, then the performance fails, and maybe it shows Banksy's preconceptions about art collectors and auctions are flawed...although I don't think he'd feel bad about being wrong in that way.

 

[WolfEyes]

Destroying works of art is about as funny as burning books.

Unless the books were written by Ayn Rand.

 

[Soen Eber]

This, collectible 90's Liefeld Comic Book covers, and giant metallic balloon animals. Yes, I see it, we are truly at the peak of Western cultural sophtication.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

For me, this reinforces an opinion I've long had about mainstream art. The art that is the most popular with the really pretentious types is always a bit sub par in just such a way that it makes it seem more "relatable" and therefore cool to many people. This little piece of performance art with what was actually a good (if overrated) painting isn't the tip of the iceberg on what I mean. It's been demonstrated that you can fool many art critics into thinking a 4 year old's painting is modern art. Nothing is too stupid for the art world.


Sometimes I think everyone knows the art is total shit, but nobody wants to admit they don't "get" it. It's an Emperor's new cloths situation.

 

[detrius]

Destroying works of art is about as funny as burning books.

Unless the books were written by Ayn Rand.

Banksy is a graffity artist, his art always has a limited life expectancy, and he knows this. The eventual destruction of the physical object is always taken into account.

He circumvents this by anchoring his works in the public consciousness, by creating copies and effective publicity stunts like this one.

The picture that got (partially) shredded wasn't even the original. The original "Balloon Girl" was a mural on a wall of a shop in East London. I don't even think it still exists, but there have been multiple reproductions and variations of the theme - and every time someone takes a photo, that photo becomes part of the art project as well.

 

[Sid]

People who love art and people who trade with art are rarely the same people.

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

People who love art and people who trade with art are rarely the same people.

Springboarding on this, fine art is often kept as hedge against market crashes, like the current round of banking deregulation in the USA. Also, tax reasons.

 

[WolfEyes]

Banksy is a graffity artist, his art always has a limited life expectancy, and he knows this. The eventual destruction of the physical object is always taken into account.

He circumvents this by anchoring his works in the public consciousness, by creating copies and effective publicity stunts like this one.

The picture that got (partially) shredded wasn't even the original. The original "Balloon Girl" was a mural on a wall of a shop in East London. I don't even think it still exists, but there have been multiple reproductions and variations of the theme - and every time someone takes a photo, that photo becomes part of the art project as well.

Back in the early 80s, I purchased an authentic framed print of a famous artist for $200 USD. That artist died in 1989. Had my ex shredded that print I would have killed him. He at least had enough sense to steal it instead. Imagine how pissed off I was when he stole it, then imagine how pissed I would have been if he had shredded it.

 

[detrius]

Back in the early 80s, I purchased an authentic framed print of a famous artist for $200 USD. That artist died in 1989. Had my ex shredded that print I would have killed him. He at least had enough sense to steal it instead. Imagine how pissed off I was when he stole it, then imagine how pissed I would have been if he had shredded it.

What is it with you always making everything about yourself?

When I talk about Banksy's approach to art and how he takes the fact into account that his work won't last forever, I'm not talking about a random other guy or what you did in the 80s, I'm talking about Banksy.

Maybe your artist made art the ordinary way that requires some physical object to hang around - but Banksy doesn't art in that manner. Nobody gives a shit about your painting.

 

[Beebo Brink]

Back in the early 80s, I purchased an authentic framed print of a famous artist for $200 USD. That artist died in 1989. Had my ex shredded that print I would have killed him. He at least had enough sense to steal it instead. Imagine how pissed off I was when he stole it, then imagine how pissed I would have been if he had shredded it.

There is no equivalency between your hypothetical incident and what Banksy did with his own print at an art auction. None.

 

[WolfEyes]

What is it with you always making everything about yourself?

When I talk about Banksy's approach to art and how he takes the fact into account that his work won't last forever, I'm not talking about a random other guy, I'm talking about Banksy.

Maybe your artist made art the ordinary way that requires some physical object to hang around - but Banksy doesn't art in that manner. Nobody gives a shit about your painting.

I don't make everything about myself. What else are we supposed to use if we aren't allowed to use our own experiences to relate ideas?

The artist was Salvador Dali.

Nobody gives a shit. That's the problem with the whole world. No one gives a shit about anything.

Since you obviously don't like me why even bother to quote my posts or say anything to me. That's a statement, not a question. It's pretty obvious to me I'm wasting my time trying to get through to you. You've already made up your mind that I'm some kind of horrible person and you have no intentions of changing it.

Enjoy the weather. It's the only weather we've got.

 

[WolfEyes]

There is no equivalency between your hypothetical incident and what Banksy did with his own print at an art auction. None.

It wasn't hypothetical. But whatever. I'm done with this since people can't seem to attack the words and not the poster.

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

Spoiler: Solutions!