Global Fugitive Destroys Painting Worth ￡1 Million

Earlier this month on October 5th, auctioneers raved on the hammer during an auction in London: "1.042 million pounds! Done!”

Suddenly, the alarm went off.

The painting, which had just been auctioned off, slipped automatically in a warning bell and was cut into strips of paper.

People at the scene were shocked：“What the heck??”

The staff of the auction house was confused too.

A few days later, the man who had done this appeared on camera.

His name is Banksy, a street artist who was the author of the painting and "wanted to create something that everyone could see for free.”

Banksy spoke out:

“A few years ago, I secretly installed a shredder in the frame... 

In case the painting ever went under the hammer”

The original version of "the girl and the balloon" was actually painted on a wall in London -- next to it was written, "THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE".

This doodle is number one on the "British favorite art" list.

That's what Banksy created it for: "an art that everyone can see without spending money."

It‘s not Banksy's first time to do something that special.

At 14, he declared war on the world.

Everywhere Banksy went, the police was too busy.

He was also taunting the government and the police with his own graffitis.

And if those shown above weren’t enough, the sexual health clinic's facade was painted with rather playful graffitis made by, guess who… Banksy.

The graffiti is so popular with local residents that the city council could only declare: “Ok, keep the graffiti…”

Even the famous Louvre museum was fooled by Banksy.

In 2004, Banksy quietly put his Mona Lisa on the wall of the Louvre museum. It was only after eight days of enjoying the painting that he was spotted by the museum’s staff, who pulled it off in absolute panic.

The British Museum couldn't escape from him.

Banksy slipped into a "primitive man pushing a shopping cart" rock painting, which was displayed as a relic for three days in the original art district.

Banksy was amused to see people passing by to appreciate his work with grace: "The art world is the biggest joke!"

Looking at Banksy's arrogance, many countries issued arrest warrants for him.

As he never publicly revealed his real identity and appearance, he lives a happy anonymous life somewhere around the world today.

In 2010, Time magazine named Banksy one of the 100 most influential people in the world. When the editor asked him for a photo, he submitted a mug shot.

No one knows who Banksy is, and even Banksy's name may be just a stage name.

After Banksy became popular, a lot of people wanted sought to spend a lot of their money on his work.

His graffiti on the street is also targeted, often the whole wall is removed to sell it to the highest bidder. What can money NOT buy these days…

But Banksy had no interest in making money, and he even painted an auction scene with a painting that reads: ” I can't believe you morons actually buy this shit."

He also created a series of works satirizing money worship.

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There are pranks and satire in his work. But more than that, they’re filled with compassion and tenderness for mankind.

In a world of despair, Banksy still has hope.

He used his works to show how cruel our world is in reality, 

but it’s also filled with warmth.

On the walls destroyed by wars, there appeared a very cute cat.

Perhaps Banksy's work should never have been valued with money because it belongs to everyone around the world.

Source: Insdaily

Editor: Crystal Huang 

Co-editor: Ed Bellin

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