[King Rudi]

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/ba...rnd/index.html

So I grew up with a skateboard in one hand and can of spray paint in the other. I've always admired art but have a love for graffiti and new skool type artwork. Fat bold lines and vibrant color just grab my attention.

Following Banksy, Shepherd Fairy, Invader and the like for years now, I've grown to appreciate their craft as well as the personalities behind the work....until this very obvious public outcry for attention and publicity stunt from Banksy.

Is he cheeky? Yes. Does he try to stick it to the man? Yes. Is he edgy? Used to be or so I believe. As an artist myself, I only turn to art when society has failed me. When I have something I am trying to work out in my head, creating art helps me. I'm a firm believer that once art stops being about the art and more so of how to gain more notoriety for the artist, then the artist has failed.

In my opinion, this was nothing more than Banksy trying to find a way of staying relevant in a day where the attention to street art may not be getting the focus it was a few years ago. Here's my point: Supposedly he built a shredder into a frame a few years ago just in case this particular piece went to auction. Just in case......riiiiight. Also this particular piece just happens to end up at auction. Then, this piece just happens to know when to shred itself moments after bidding was closed for this piece.

Would have been better to say "Hey check this shit out" rather than trying to set this publicity stunt up. The piece had to be entered into auction in order for it to be there. If Banksy created the piece then how did it mysteriously get placed in auction without his knowledge. Once the piece is at auction and being bid upon how did the frame know to when to destroy the art? Simple answer to all, the entire thing was set up get everyone's attention and remind them all of how clever, edgy and cheeky Banksy is.

I believe that an artist does what they do for the love of doing it. It appears that Banksy simply needs attention. If I'm creating something, I'm not doing it for the accolades. His trip to the US in order to create these "street art shows" is ridiculous. Most graff writers, taggers, etc. do what they do in secrecy for the love of the art and in hopes of not being busted by the police, not for recognition. Let's be honest, Banksy's work is cheeky but it's not great art.

I've been a fan of his for years, but now it seems that he is attempting a Sacha Baron Cohen type of art. Banksy is to art what Marilyn Manson is to pop music.

Thoughts anyone?

[dinonz]

I also wondered what batteries he chose that could keep the remote signaling circuits working for several years, and power the shredder, without going flat.

Or did he ask the auction company to plug it into USB to charge it for him?

[cjb762]

And the first rude sketch that the world had seen was joy to his mighty heart,
Till the Devil whispered behind the leaves: “It’s pretty, but is it Art?”

[King Rudi]

I'd also like to add that I copied the original piece of Girl with a Balloon for my ex-wife, done in true Banksy style - I copied the image, created a stencil and used a spray bomb to complete the piece. There are many differences in the original and the one that was said to be the original that was sold at auction.

Also in his video that was made in creating the shredder frame, no one has bothered to notice that the angle of the blades being used to shred said art are lying flat against the flat stock used. This would not shred the artwork inside, simply not possible.

[Savageenterprise]

Isn’t art about expression as the artist sees fit? Maybe this is how he wants to express himself so how can you blame/judge his actions.

Not to mention the piece sold for 1.1 million. I don’t think he’s worried about credibility....

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by Savageenterprise

Isn’t art about expression as the artist sees fit? Maybe this is how he wants to express himself so how can you blame/judge his actions.

Not to mention the piece sold for 1.1 million. I don’t think he’s worried about credibility....

Ultimately people can do whatever they like. This doesn't mean they earn respect in the interim. I can blame/judge his actions as he enjoys his anonymity yet wants to be in the limelight. Nothing short of Kurt Cobain making fun of musicians of the day in the 90's then going on to state that Nirvana wasn't trying to be mainstream or popular and hated the fame, yet he would jump in front of a camera any opportunity he had.

It did sell for 1.4m but wouldn't the money go to the person selling it and not the artist? If he knew nothing about it and did all this just in case, years in advance and he did not enter the piece into the auction he wouldn't have received those funds anyway.

Personally I believe he did all this as a way for a quick buck and some additional notoriety....you know, because people who want to remain anonymous love to be on the news. He may be playing the system well for his benefit but this makes him no different than Mr. Brainwash who he apparently despises due to this same mentality.

[overcoil]

Weren’t a lot of people I’m on the prank at the auction house ?

[DETRoadster]

The simple answer to all your questions is that the auction house was in on the joke. The placement of the work is suspect; hanging oddly on a wall as opposed to being on an easel. It was the very last auction of the evening. Also, it's reported that a person with some sort of hand-held device (presumably to trigger the shredder), who was not an auction participant, was allowed into the auction and was escorted out shortly after the painting shredded.

Also, top bidder was a mystery "collector" over the phone. My guess is that Banksy himself coordinated this with the auction house (through an intermediary of course) and the seller. Perhaps he had purchased the painting before hand and was thus in a position to take possession of it, rig it, and shred it. He may have even been the "high bidder" on the phone. In other words a publicity stunt through and through.

At the end of the day I think it's hilarious. That now shredded work, in that frame, with this story attached to it is probably worth 2X what it was when it entered the auction.

My wife and I bought a Banksy while in Europe last year. Unsigned (we arent THAT baller) piece. Not particularly valuable. Maybe worth a grand. Still it's fun to have and reminds us of our trip.

Originally Posted by Not_Judy

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/ba...rnd/index.htmlFollowing Banksy, Shepherd Fairy, Invader and the like for years now, I've grown to appreciate their craft as well as the personalities behind the work

Space Invader is a personal favorite of mine. My wife downloaded a Space Invader app that locates and authenticates invaders in whatever city you are in. We used it in Barcelona 2 weeks ago and found 4 originals. Amazing to me they are still there, just stuck to walls. There were a few that were missing; we could see the spots where they had been removed. We spent some time with a local Barcelona street artist whose work we discovered while there, and he told us that in Paris many of the original Invaders are being stolen. The cops are hunting down a gang of thieves, illegally stealing illegal art installations. Crazy. Glad these works are being somewhat protected.

[are0lies]

In case any of you are wondering who he is.

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by DETRoadster

The simple answer to all your questions is that the auction house was in on the joke. The placement of the work is suspect; hanging oddly on a wall as opposed to being on an easel. It was the very last auction of the evening. Also, it's reported that a person with some sort of hand-held device (presumably to trigger the shredder), who was not an auction participant, was allowed into the auction and was escorted out shortly after the painting shredded.

Also, top bidder was a mystery "collector" over the phone. My guess is that Banksy himself coordinated this with the auction house (through an intermediary of course) and the seller. Perhaps he had purchased the painting before hand and was thus in a position to take possession of it, rig it, and shred it. He may have even been the "high bidder" on the phone. In other words a publicity stunt through and through.

At the end of the day I think it's hilarious. That now shredded work, in that frame, with this story attached to it is probably worth 2X what it was when it entered the auction.

My wife and I bought a Banksy while in Europe last year. Unsigned (we arent THAT baller) piece. Not particularly valuable. Maybe worth a grand. Still it's fun to have and reminds us of our trip.



Space Invader is a personal favorite of mine. My wife downloaded a Space Invader app that locates and authenticates invaders in whatever city you are in. We used it in Barcelona 2 weeks ago and found 4 originals. Amazing to me they are still there, just stuck to walls. There were a few that were missing; we could see the spots where they had been removed. We spent some time with a local Barcelona street artist whose work we discovered while there, and he told us that in Paris many of the original Invaders are being stolen. The cops are hunting down a gang of thieves, illegally stealing illegal art installations. Crazy. Glad these works are being somewhat protected.

I can see how people in the know would think it's funny but to be spun to the general public the way it was executed actually just makes him look ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of his, I just think this one missed the mark. I personally thought his fake tenner was pretty comical; that and the fact that people started using it as currency and vendors were accepting it was hilarious.

Invader is one of my favorites too. I follow him on Instagram and his posts are great. He leaves trails everywhere he goes, but I guess that's the point. I got my kids into street art a few years back through books and some interweb sites then when Exit Through the Gift Shop came out they really got into it. Both of my boys wanted me to make space invaders out of 1" glass tiles for their bedrooms and so I did. They are placed in inconspicuous places in the house. When company actually notices them of course they have no idea what they are but it's the occasional guest that recognizes and appreciates what they are. Glad to see I'm not the only subculture kid inhabiting the forums.

[P1]

Was it creative? Sure. But was it real? Of course not. He showed pictures of the "shredder". Paper would never shred that way by being pushed through the blades. If anything, it'll get all crumbled up and would never push through.

If you look closely at the paper moving through, you can see it's not even lined up properly. Does the painting both get shredded and get shifted to the right by a few inches?

Come on now. Is every truly that naive? This was a publicity stunt. Nothing more, nothing less.

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by P1et

Come on now. Is every truly that naive? This was a publicity stunt. Nothing more, nothing less.

A poorly executed one at that. At the end of the day it did make the news so I guess there's that......but then again so did Janet Jackson's boob during the halftime show.


@ the guy on the phone.

[The Reverend]

I was always on the fence about Banksy, never really liked him, never disliked him. This stunt definitely made me like him more and in all honesty, that painting is probably worth even more now.

As for the comment about Banksy hating Mr. Brainwash, watch the documentary "Exit through the Gift Shop" and you'll probably hate Mr. Brainwash as well.

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by The Reverend

I was always on the fence about Banksy, never really liked him, never disliked him. This stunt definitely made me like him more and in all honesty, that painting is probably worth even more now.

As for the comment about Banksy hating Mr. Brainwash, watch the documentary "Exit through the Gift Shop" and you'll probably hate Mr. Brainwash as well.

I've seen it. Referenced in one of the posts above. Honestly this paints Banksy in the same light.

[minn19]

I think when people get a taste of fame even if at first they didn’t want it, they end up missing it. Then they sometimes do odd things to attain it again. Maybe it was simply this for this person.

Or they got a drug/gambling/ex wife problem and need some quick cash.

But, fame/attention can be its own version of a drug as well.

[UncleWede]

While MANY of those with spray cans have a true artistic talent, it's STILL not an excuse to paint the side of my building. IF I wanted a mural, or even random characters there, I would hire someone to do it.


And STAY OFF MY LAWN!!!

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

While MANY of those with spray cans have a true artistic talent, it's STILL not an excuse to paint the side of my building. IF I wanted a mural, or even random characters there, I would hire someone to do it.


And STAY OFF MY LAWN!!!

We simply need more blank canvas's. Not everyone is as polite about their illegal forms of art as some of us are.

[IanMan]

Originally Posted by dinonz

I also wondered what batteries he chose that could keep the remote signaling circuits working for several years, and power the shredder, without going flat.

Or did he ask the auction company to plug it into USB to charge it for him?

Bingooooo......


It was all a setup. Banksy "sold it" to an alibi.

[KenB925]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

While MANY of those with spray cans have a true artistic talent, it's STILL not an excuse to paint the side of my building. IF I wanted a mural, or even random characters there, I would hire someone to do it.


And STAY OFF MY LAWN!!!

I could not agree more!

They are FUCKING CRIMINALS, FUCKING THIEVES, and generally reduce the quality of life where they leave their 'art'

This not to say that some of them do not have talent, they certainly do, and I can even appreciate this type of art WHERE IT BELONGS, when it costs me money, time and effort to clean up the mess these assholes leave, and repair/replace my property that they damaged in the process, it pisses me off.

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by KenB925

I could not agree more!

They are FUCKING CRIMINALS, FUCKING THIEVES, and generally reduce the quality of life where they leave their 'art'

This not to say that some of them do not have talent, they certainly do, and I can even appreciate this type of art WHERE IT BELONGS, when it costs me money, time and effort to clean up the mess these assholes leave, and repair/replace my property that they damaged in the process, it pisses me off.

I'll agree with this 100%. Back when I was tagging/learning we had a spot that we used that wasn't a business or in public view. Basically a home that burned on an abandoned lot where a lot of the locals would go swimming. The foundation of the basement was still intact with 4 solid walls on the inside. Years later when I became a manager, we had some kids from low income housing close by that would come and spray paint the backside of our building. Not even trying to create art, just to be spray painting random stupid shit. I eventually caught them and explained that there are places they could do this without costing local business owners money. They thought it was funny to do it again...not as funny as I did when I had the police monitor the place after hours and they got busted.

Atlanta has/had a wall that was dedicated to graffiti that was changed monthly and different artists were highlighted on artcrimes.com.

[GuidoK]

EEVblog did an interesting video about the technical aspect of it (mainly batteries etc that wouldnt have lasted 6 years for the reciever circuit), and of course, this was a publicity stunt and the seller was in on it.
EEVblog didnt think Sotheby's was in on it but I think they were.
I think the authentication of the piece was not done by Sotheby's (there is a special bureau that does Banksy authentications), but a slot on the bottom of the frame where the painting was ejected must have been noted otherwise.

[The0pportunist]

I'm not sure i'd call Banksy an attention seeker just purely because he has chosen to keep his face out of the limelight.