Banksy artwork which partially shredded itself goes back under the hammer
Watch a clip from our interview with Oliver Barker, chairman of Sotherby's Europe.
A Banksy painting that partially shredded itself after being sold at auction is going back under the hammer.
The subversive street artist stunned the art world when his Girl With Balloon attempted to self-destruct in London in 2018 immediately after the conclusion of the auction.
A collector had the top bid at £1.1 million.
The canvas was passed through a secret shredder hidden in the large Victorian-style frame, leaving the bottom half in tatters and only a solitary red balloon left on a white background in the frame.
The painting, re-titled Love Is In The Bin after the shredding, is now back on offer and will appear at a Sotheby’s auction in October.
It has an estimated selling price of between £4-6 million.
Oliver Barker, auctioneer and chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, told ITV News: "It may sound ironic that a work that literally self-destructed and shredded should be worth even more, but that's exactly what it is."
He also said that Girl With Balloon is the nation's "favourite artwork," comparing it to Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting, Mona Lisa.
Girl With Balloon, which depicts a small child reaching up toward a heart-shaped red balloon, was originally stencilled on a wall in east London and has been endlessly reproduced, becoming one of Banksy’s best-known images.
Banksy rose to prominence through a series of graffiti pieces that appeared on buildings across the country, marked by their satirical themes.
Watch the moment when Girl With Balloon self-destructs, in a video report by ITV News Reporter Helen Keenan
The self-destruction was the latest in a long history of anti-establishment statements by the mysterious street artist.
The owner of the work, who placed the £1 million winning bid on Girl With Balloon, said: “That surreal evening three years ago, I became the accidental – but very privileged – owner of Love Is In The Bin.
“It has been an incredible journey to have been part of the story of how one of the most famous artworks in the world came to be, but now it is time to let the painting go.”
Love Is In The Bin will be offered at auction on October 14.