Going, going, gone! A piece of art by Banksy self-destructed immediately after being auctioned off in London.
The auction of Banksy's 'Girl with a Balloon' was the climax of Sotheby's Friday evening (local time) sale, pulling in over NZ$2.1 million.
But just after the gavel went down, an alarm reportedly went off inside the frame, reports the Financial Times.
The frame, which was also made by Banksy, contained a shredder which began cutting the art into strips as patrons looked around in both awe and confusion.
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Some at the auction have speculated the elusive artist, who reportedly hates the art world, may have been in the room ready to push the button.
'Girl with a Balloon' is one of Banksy's most famous works, and suspiciously also sold for the exact same amount of money in 2008.
Sotheby's head of contemporary art for Europe, Alex Branczik, said he was not in one the ruse.
"We've just been Banksy'ed," he said.
In a statement, the auction house said it was in discussion with the art's purchaser about the next steps.
Newshub.
