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Shredded Banksy work sells for record £18m

Ten-minute battle involving nine bidders causes price to soar

Simon Rushton
Simon Rushton

October 14, 2021

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A work by British street artist Banksy sold at auction for almost £18.6 million ($25.4m) – a record price for one of his works.

The painting, which self-shredded the last time it was sold three years ago, reached £18,582,000, or almost 20 times more than its pre-shredded price.

Love is in the Bin was sold in London by auction house Sotheby's on Thursday after a 10-minute bidding war involving nine bidders in the sales room, online and on phone.

“It is almost three years to the day since one of the most ingenious moments of performance art this century made auction history,” said Alex Branczik, chairman of modern and contemporary art at Sotheby's Asia.

“It has been a whirlwind to follow the journey of this now legendary piece and to have it back in our midst, offering it tonight in the very room it was created by the artist.

“Banksy is no stranger to making headlines and this latest chapter in his story has captured imaginations across the world. We can only begin to guess what might come next.”

Love is the Bin sells for $25. 4 million. Sotheby's/AP
Love is the Bin sells for $25. 4 million. Sotheby's/AP

The painting, originally titled Girl with Balloon, made headlines in 2018 when it partially self-destructed at the end of the auction in which it was sold for £1.1m.

The canvas was passed through a secret shredder hidden inside the large frame, leaving the bottom half in tatters and only a solitary red balloon left on a white background in the frame.

Girl with Balloon, which depicts a small child reaching up towards 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.

People take pictures of a new Banksy artwork in Islington, London, in March 2024. Getty Images
People take pictures of a new Banksy artwork in Islington, London, in March 2024. Getty Images
A work by Banksy is removed in Peckham, south-east London, in December 2023. Getty Images
A work by Banksy is removed in Peckham, south-east London, in December 2023. Getty Images
Graffiti created by British artist Banksy under a protective screen on the damaged wall of a residential building in Irpin, Ukraine in April 2023. Getty Images
Graffiti created by British artist Banksy under a protective screen on the damaged wall of a residential building in Irpin, Ukraine in April 2023. Getty Images
An artwork painted on the side of a property in Herne Bay, Kent in March 2023. PA
An artwork painted on the side of a property in Herne Bay, Kent in March 2023. PA
The artwork by street artist Banksy, titled 'Valentine's Day Mascara' on the side of a building in Margate, Kent in February 2023. PA
The artwork by street artist Banksy, titled 'Valentine's Day Mascara' on the side of a building in Margate, Kent in February 2023. PA
A Reveller walks by a graffiti attributed to Banksy as he arrives at Worthy Farm in Somerset during the Glastonbury Festival in June 2022. Reuters
A Reveller walks by a graffiti attributed to Banksy as he arrives at Worthy Farm in Somerset during the Glastonbury Festival in June 2022. Reuters
A Banksy artwork in Nottingham in October 2020. Reuters
A Banksy artwork in Nottingham in October 2020. Reuters
Show me the Monet by Banksy at Sotheby's Galleries in London in October 2020. AFP
Show me the Monet by Banksy at Sotheby's Galleries in London in October 2020. AFP
Banksy's Sunflowers From Petrol Station, inspired by Vincent van Gogh. PA
Banksy's Sunflowers From Petrol Station, inspired by Vincent van Gogh. PA
Banksy captioned the photo of this work Game Changer. Photo: Instagram
Banksy captioned the photo of this work Game Changer. Photo: Instagram
A customised stab-proof vest by street artist Banksy at the Design Museum in London. EPA
A customised stab-proof vest by street artist Banksy at the Design Museum in London. EPA
A Banksy stencil posted on Instagram in June 2020, with a caption asking 'What should we do with the empty plinth in the middle of Bristol?' Photo: Instagram
A Banksy stencil posted on Instagram in June 2020, with a caption asking 'What should we do with the empty plinth in the middle of Bristol?' Photo: Instagram
A Banksy piece inspired by the death of George Floyd and subsequent Black Lives Matter protests. Photo: Instagram
A Banksy piece inspired by the death of George Floyd and subsequent Black Lives Matter protests. Photo: Instagram
Girl with a Pierced Eardrum, in Bristol. Getty
Girl with a Pierced Eardrum, in Bristol. Getty
Banksy released a new piece in his bathroom as he worked from home during the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. Photo: Instagram
Banksy released a new piece in his bathroom as he worked from home during the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. Photo: Instagram
A Valentine's Day piece by Banksy appeared in Bristol in February 2020. Reuters
A Valentine's Day piece by Banksy appeared in Bristol in February 2020. Reuters
A Christmas mural by Banksy in Birmingham, December 2019. The piece made a statement about homelessness. Reuters
A Christmas mural by Banksy in Birmingham, December 2019. The piece made a statement about homelessness. Reuters
Banksy's pop-up shop called Gross Domestic Product in Croydon, London in 2019. AFP
Banksy's pop-up shop called Gross Domestic Product in Croydon, London in 2019. AFP
A view of Banksy's migrant child mural, half-submerged in high water in Venice, November 2019. EPA
A view of Banksy's migrant child mural, half-submerged in high water in Venice, November 2019. EPA
Devolved Parliament at Sotheby's auction house in London, featuring chimpanzees as MPs in the House of Commons. EPA
Devolved Parliament at Sotheby's auction house in London, featuring chimpanzees as MPs in the House of Commons. EPA
A Banksy artwork in Marble Arch, London, at the site of an Extinction Rebellion protest camp. EPA
A Banksy artwork in Marble Arch, London, at the site of an Extinction Rebellion protest camp. EPA
Love is in the Bin at the Frieder Burda Museum in Baden-Baden, Germany. EPA
Love is in the Bin at the Frieder Burda Museum in Baden-Baden, Germany. EPA
There is Always Hope. EPA
There is Always Hope. EPA
Season's Greetings (2018) was painted on a garage in Port Talbot, Wales. Getty
Season's Greetings (2018) was painted on a garage in Port Talbot, Wales. Getty
Part of the unauthorised exhibition entitled Banksy, Genius or Vandal? in Madrid, December 2018. EPA
Part of the unauthorised exhibition entitled Banksy, Genius or Vandal? in Madrid, December 2018. EPA
A piece by Banksy, acquired by actor Robin Williams, was among auction items on display in Los Angeles, September 2018. EPA
A piece by Banksy, acquired by actor Robin Williams, was among auction items on display in Los Angeles, September 2018. EPA
A Brexit-inspired mural by Banksy in Dover, south-east England. EPA
A Brexit-inspired mural by Banksy in Dover, south-east England. EPA
A veiled woman in mourning beside the Bataclan concert venue in Paris where 90 people where killed by terrorists in November 2015. EPA
A veiled woman in mourning beside the Bataclan concert venue in Paris where 90 people where killed by terrorists in November 2015. EPA
An artwork attributed to Banksy showing Napoleon's horse rearing, in Paris, June 2018. EPA
An artwork attributed to Banksy showing Napoleon's horse rearing, in Paris, June 2018. EPA
A mural depicting a rat on a popped champagne cork, in Paris, June 2018. EPA
A mural depicting a rat on a popped champagne cork, in Paris, June 2018. EPA
A rat in the inner portion of a clock in New York City, March 2018. EPA
A rat in the inner portion of a clock in New York City, March 2018. EPA
A Banksy mural highlights the imprisonment of Turkish artist and journalist Zehra Dogan, on the Bowery, New York City in February 2019. EPA
A Banksy mural highlights the imprisonment of Turkish artist and journalist Zehra Dogan, on the Bowery, New York City in February 2019. EPA
A Banksy painting appeared on the first day of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. EPA
A Banksy painting appeared on the first day of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. EPA
Flying Copper on display in Berlin. EPA
Flying Copper on display in Berlin. EPA
The Bridge Farm Primary School where a new mural appeared during half term in Withchurch, England. The mural was a thanks to the school for naming a school wing after Banksy. EPA
The Bridge Farm Primary School where a new mural appeared during half term in Withchurch, England. The mural was a thanks to the school for naming a school wing after Banksy. EPA
The Son of a Migrant from Syria depicting Apple's Steve Jobs in the refugee camp called The Jungle in Calais, France. EPA
The Son of a Migrant from Syria depicting Apple's Steve Jobs in the refugee camp called The Jungle in Calais, France. EPA
Dismaland, a temporary exhibition that opened at a derelict seafront lido in Weston-Super-Mare, England in 2015. Getty
Dismaland, a temporary exhibition that opened at a derelict seafront lido in Weston-Super-Mare, England in 2015. Getty
Bomb Hugger after it was defaced in Hamburg, February 2015. EPA
Bomb Hugger after it was defaced in Hamburg, February 2015. EPA
Banksy appeared to comment on methods used by Britain's intelligence services with this piece in Cheltenham. EPA
Banksy appeared to comment on methods used by Britain's intelligence services with this piece in Cheltenham. EPA
The Twin Towers in Tribeca appeared in New York in 2013. EPA
The Twin Towers in Tribeca appeared in New York in 2013. EPA
A mural by Banksy in Queens, New York. EPA
A mural by Banksy in Queens, New York. EPA
Three years after Hurricane Katrina wrought havoc in the Gulf of Mexico, Banksy created some commemorative pieces in New Orleans, Louisiana. EPA
Three years after Hurricane Katrina wrought havoc in the Gulf of Mexico, Banksy created some commemorative pieces in New Orleans, Louisiana. EPA
Another mural by Banksy in New Orleans. EPA
Another mural by Banksy in New Orleans. EPA
A Banksy in London, May 2008. EPA
A Banksy in London, May 2008. EPA
A piece to mark Queen Elizabeth II's golden jubilee appeared on Clink Street, near London Bridge, in May 2002. EPA
A piece to mark Queen Elizabeth II's golden jubilee appeared on Clink Street, near London Bridge, in May 2002. EPA

Love is in the Bin massively outperformed its price estimate of between £4m and £6m.

The seller of the artwork, who placed the £1m winning bid on Girl with Balloon, previously described the shredding of the artwork as “surreal".

He said he became the “accidental but very privileged owner of Love is in the Bin".

In March, Banksy raised more than £16m for health projects by auctioning Game Changer, a hand-painted image showing a young boy playing with superhero dolls.

While Batman and Spider-Man are discarded in a bin, the child clutches a figure of a masked nurse wearing a cape.

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

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Men's finals

45kg:Duc Le Hoang (VIE) beat Zolfi Amirhossein (IRI) points 29-28. 48kg: Naruephon Chittra (THA) beat Joseph Vanlalhruaia (IND) TKO round 2.

51kg: Sakchai Chamchit (THA) beat Salam Al Suwaid (IRQ) TKO round 1. ​​​​​​​54kg: Veerasak Senanue (THA) beat Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) 30-25.

57kg: Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Tak Chuen Suen (MAC) RSC round 3. 60kg: Yerkanat Ospan (KAZ) beat Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) 30-27.

63.5kg: Abil Galiyev (KAZ) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE) 29-28. 67kg: Narin Wonglakhon (THA) beat Mohammed Mardi (UAE) 29-28.

71kg: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) w/o Shaker Al Tekreeti (IRQ). 75kg:​​​​​​​ Youssef Abboud (LBN) w/o Ayoob Saki (IRI).

81kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Khaled Tarraf (LBN) 29-28. 86kg: Ali Takaloo (IRI) beat Emil Umayev (KAZ) 30-27.

91kg: Hamid Reza Kordabadi (IRI) beat Mohamad Osaily (LBN) RSC round 1. 91-plus kg: Mohammadrezapoor Shirmohammad (IRI) beat Abdulla Hasan (IRQ) 30-27.

Women's finals

45kg: Somruethai Siripathum (THA) beat Ha Huu Huynh (VIE) 30-27. 48kg: Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Colleen Saddi (PHI) 30-27.

51kg: Wansawang Srila Or (THA) beat Thuy Phuong Trieu (VIE) 29-28. 54kg: Ruchira Wongsriwo (THA) beat Zeinab Khatoun (LBN) 30-26.

57kg: Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Zahra Nasiri Bargh (IRI) 30-27. 60kg: Kaewrudee Kamtakrapoom (THA) beat Sedigheh Hajivand (IRI) TKO round 2.

63.5kg: Nadiya Moghaddam (IRI) w/o Reem Al Issa (JOR).

Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces

 

  • Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
  • Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
  • Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
  • Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
  • Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
Updated: October 15, 2021, 9:42 AM`