Seconds after “Girl with Balloon” was sold at an auction in London for one million pounds, 1.4 million dollars, it began to shred itself from the bottom of the frame. Banksy has since released a video on his official Instagram revealing how he inserted a shredder in the frame in case it was ever put up for auction. The artist is notoriously against his art having monetary value.
His anti-auction plan seems to have backfired. The painting, now strips hanging from the frame, gained even more substantial value from the stunt. In a statement from a company that resells Banksy art, “This is now part of art history in its shredded state and we’d estimate Banksy has added at a minimum 50% to its value, possibly as high as being worth £2m plus.”
This art piece depicts a young girl who has just lost grasp of her heart shaped balloon. The balloon can be interpreted to represent hope or innocence and the simple image is universally relatable. Many other of Banksy’s works are more controversial.
Banksy’s biography describes his style, “His artwork is often satirical and combines dark humor with graffiti and also spread messages across art, philosophy, and politics.” Using stencils and spray paint, Banksy creates recognizable political satirist street art such as a homeless man holding a sign ‘keep your coins I want change’, two boys stealing a spray paint can from a no graffiti sign, and an intimate man and woman looking at their phones over the other’s shoulder.
While his true identity is unknown, his artwork has been part of the flood of street art now becoming mainstream. Once seen as a terrible act of vandalism, street art has become a compelling attraction in cities big and small. Overall, it is now seen as a positive addition to cityscapes.
In Paris it’s Rue Germaine Tailleferre, for Prague the Lennon wall, and in New York the corner of Bowery and Houston. These are each city’s crowning graffiti location: magnets for photographers and tourists alike. PV Senior Divya Vashisht who moved from New York in 2009 reflected, “When I was little I remember that a lot of people considered it a form of littering but as I grew up I realized that it was really a form of art and a way that people can express themselves. I felt like it added color to the city and gave you something to look at and appreciate while you’re stuck in traffic.” Street art is growing in popularity and appreciation.
Here in the Quad Cities, street art popularity is also growing. Companies such as K&K Hardware have volunteered their spare concrete walls to artists such as the Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program. Though not quite to Banksy’s level, the QC has their own anonymous artist going by the tag Keep Trying who is posting huge, motivational paper at choice locations. The messages include “you are our superhero” and “you can choose your destiny.”
The Quad City Times quoted Moline Police Detective Scott Williams, “Police are quick to cover up gang graffiti, but this doesn’t qualify.” Many Quad citizens are glad of this decision. Even if winter will take its toll on some of the art, especially the paper cut outs, they brighten commutes and errands for many in the area.
