New Banksy video shows what went wrong with his ‘Girl With A Balloon’ shredding stunt

"In rehearsals it worked every time...."

Banksy has released a new video which suggests that his $1.1 million Girl With A Balloon print was supposed to have been entirely shredded.

The anonymous art icon attracted global attention earlier this month after the 2006 piece shredded itself only moments after going under the hammer at Sotheby’s Auction House in London.

But in a video released on Tuesday, he seemingly suggests that the entire painting was meant to be shredded – as opposed to the top half which eventually remained untouched.

Advertisement

In Shred the Love (the director’s cut), Banksy is seen constructing the mechanism inside the frame, before we see the moment of eventual destruction.

As the video draws to a close, it notes: “In rehearsals it worked every time”, before showing a replica going entirely through the shredder.

It comes after Banksy denied that he was in partnership with Sothebys, after it was suggested that they had prior knowledge of the stunt.

“I can categorically tell you there was no collusion between the artist and the auction house in any shape or form”, a spokesperson for the artist.

The buyer of the iconic painting has also confirmed that she will go through with the sale.

Advertisement

The new-look work has also been given a new title, Love Is In The Bin, and granted a certificate of authenticity by Pest Control, Banksy’s authentication team.

The anonymous woman said: “When the hammer came down last week and the work was shredded, I was at first shocked, but gradually I began to realise that I would end up with my own piece of art history.”

You May Also Like

Advertisement

TRENDING

Advertisement

More Stories