Behind the Banksy Stunt 

Plot twist: Banksy was both the seller and the buyer

This was a great video but it just made me think about how much I love the word shenanigans.

Banksy is how to basic

Auctioneer: "1.3 million? Sold!" *turns over* Everyone: "wtf" Random guy in the crowd: "ILL PAY DOUBLE NOW"

"I can't believe you morons actually buy this shit" goddamnit, I'm in love.

I don't have much to say about the critique of the art world and capitalism. But i feel a bit melancholic about this because of the theme of the art itself. Girl with balloon always felt a little hopeful, the half-shredded image makes me uneasy, sorta like how destruction seems to come for whichever hopeful people and times (maybe this is just a reflection of my pessimistic view of the world, but still)

. ❤️ / 🙋‍♀️

Buyer: I want your house for 4 billion dollars Me: Sold! *Detonates House*

I find it ironic because art critics and scholars delve so deep into interpreting his art that they're missing his point of "stop taking art so seriously"

Thank you Banksy, very cool.

Great video. I've never understood why Banksy's is so popular, their style was never particularly unique but now people call all stencil graffiti Banksy-esque which is a shame to the many talented stencil artists before and after Banksy. Their art tends to be so on the nose and superficial yet it’s often treated like its "deep" or subversive. I'm not saying Banksy is totally bad but it is absurd how most people would happily paint over almost any graffiti and arrest any graffiti artist except the mythical Banksy who gets their work covered in protective plastic, and on the news. The subversive artist, whose work society loves, hardly seems that subversive at all.

As a professional picture framer and artist, this is FUCKING GENIUS on every level! If his art went through Sotheby's without a stunt like this Banksy's art would be dead. So yeah. Well played Banksey.

The how-I-did-it video is him playing with us again. At 4m42s in this video, he's supposed to be soldering a wire but he's holding the hot as hades part of of the soldering iron. In the background are the knives that should shred the canvas but they're oriented so the canvas would past the blade instead of across it. I think he's having a wee laugh - good on ya, Banksy.

the high art community is so evil that this work will probably be worth way more now. banksy has become the thing he hated most

*True art makes you smile, not reach for your wallet.*

I feel like the message would have been better understood if the canvas was more truly destroyed, like burning or ruining it in a more destructive way, I feel like the shredding (and the “mistake” that it wasn’t shredded all the way) is Banksy not committing to the idea of destroying the art, he’s obviously opposed to auctions and paying two much, and I feel like making a “new” work of art is shallow and covers up the original point he was trying to make

That's genius! Art is art, it's whatever you want it to be. Shredding it makes it so much more unique.

Plot twist: Banks is Radio Rebel.

Thank you for such a concise commentary on this, you have articulated my thoughts about this so much better than I ever could! While I am not a huge fan of the work Banksy creates, I can appreciate what he does with his work and I love that this event created such a huge media outpouring. It has people talking, whether they are for or against it.

This is such a great commentary on the work thank you for doing this. So many people have come to me asking for my views on this being an art student, and I haven't known where to start there's so much to say about it! And you did it in 10 minutes haha

The fact that his work was the final lot despite being the cheapest one of the event is already a solid proof Sotheby was in on it imo. And great video as always, thank you!

4:41 Apparently Banksy doesn't know how to solder. That makes me wonder if the video is fake. (He's holding the soldering iron from the hot part, a great way to burn his fingers)

And everybody (Sotheby's and Banksy) got paid. Mission accomplished.

Remember that one scene of Into The Spider verse where reality is warped and that guy is just like “Maybe it’s a banksy?” 😂

Canadians (CARFAC) are working really hard to advocate for Artist Resale Rights. Meaning that an artist will be entitled to 5% of the resale of their work. This is an issue that has disproportionately affected Northern Indigenous artists. Maybe an interesting point to put into conversation with what's happening in England and the larger auction houses.

Ah, I remember going through discussions like these a lot back in art school. Banksy's works never fail to pique my curiosity.

Couldn't wait for you all to upload something about this.

I have never really paid attention to Banksy's work. Even when this incident happened it didn't really move my needle. But, as usual, the way you framed this event I have a new found interest and am going to look at Banksy's work more in depth.

My museum co-workers and I agreed that this was the most Banksy thing to ever happen

i live in Bristol, and it's really very surreal to walk into town and see Banksy's work everywhere. it's somewhat wonderful.. but always leaves you unsettled.

The "Banksy" stunt was clearly an inside Southby's job for the sake of outside noteriety. This kind of faux rejection of elitism, while simultaneously promoting the elitism, is such a tiresome routine. I can't help but wonder how much the art market in the US/UK is more about creating narcisists and sociopaths than it is about creating art?

This man is beyond brilliant, for many reasons, and he will be named as one of the greatest of his generation. I don't even know the artist and he's making my toes curl.

Anyone feel like Banksy is like one of those teen who just want to express their art (street art) then randomly put into a spotlight. Then he just did what he always does (be a rebel, dont always obey the rules, "i do what i feel i want to do" type of person, be political) but others interpreted it as something magical and artsy and he just kept on going with it.

It's a little ironic he's shredding the art with one hand and taking a cheque with the other

I used to like Banksy, but this has soured me on him to no end. I FIRMLY believe that the painting was never meant to be shredded all the way. It's part of the tragic tale that he wants to weave; "Oh, look at this piece of art that he wanted to destroy so the GREEDY art collectors couldn't have it, but it didn't work and it just HAPPENED to go up in price tenfold". He's a good storyteller, but he seems less and less genuine the more he engages with the established art community. If he just didn't engage, I think it would sit more with the message he seems to want to send

You have a very calm and pleasing tone when describing this. Super informative.

ive never seen that gold frame stick fugure banksy piece. holy shit he really is an edgy 14 year old

Every element - the institutional critique, the auction itself, the framing, the media’s response, contributed to a live art piece. Bravura

When you destroy something and it makes it even more valuable. Art.

Oh how I love meta work. My relationship with Banksy's art is bittersweet, as it lends itself to be, but at least it is a relationship. Makes me wonder why some other works don't engage me as much (maybe they lack the community that shares it and discusses it? Maybe they aren't as flashy and/or taking advantage of social media to the right degree?). Thank you again for making these videos 💕

I half expected her to say link in the dooblydoo at then end

Shredding strips might make an interesting art project.... I love how this channel always inspires me

I like his art. I saw this and my partner said the art was ruined, and was amazed that something so expensive could be shredded. I explained to him the work was now worth twice what had been paid for it. The act of destruction increased it's impact, and forever insured it's provenance.

The fact that the balloon heart wasn't shredded reminds me a phenomenon about the dog and the finger. If you point the starts, the dog won't look at the starts, he will look at your finger. The shredded girl was the finger. Banksy forces you to see the starts instead of looking at the finger. That's my translation.

to me this translates into: this youtube video is a part of Banksy's Art

Good job banksy you just made it more valuable, because it went from visual art to performance art that can be hung up on a wall.

Such an amazing concept, and commentary on the world of art. That price probably quadrupled in value by being partly shredded.

Maybe the whole point of this piece is that love is not in the bin after all. The heart does not get shredded, as it was maybe really intended. There is always hope!

I just realized his art is on my school walls

he's such a genius. Love him

Take a look how he’s holding the soldering iron at 4:41? He would burn his fingers!

What wonderful commentary! Thanks - it was a delight to watch.

I’m not much into art but this is interesting as hell and funny

I love Banksy, but if he'd really wanted to destroy it, he would have shredded it into confetti, not strips.

Banksy makes kitsch with surface-level observations. It works well on the streets as simple commentary, but it has for some reason been elevated to this level of conceptual high-art that it simply just isn't. The only thing subversive about this new artwork is exposing how many gullible people actually believed that the shredding was somehow subversive, and that even the public isn't immune to reading way too much into, and putting way too much value in this (now literal) garbage. I know the art world is dumb. I don't need an artwork to bluntly point that out when I can see it in the thousands of truly talented artists who struggle to sell a single painting while tripe like this sells for millions.

Ironically that is true art, to have a piece of art destroy it's self is symbolic directed to consumers who take things for granted

Am i the only one who noticed that the auctioneer presses a button under the rostrum and starts the mechanism? 0:09

i love how creative he is :)

Really interesting video! Thank you for how carefully the scripts are written and delivered. Also thank you for the heads up about Two Cents - hadn't heard of it, but it sounds neat!

I’d been waiting for you to make a video about this! It has definitely made me think more critically about the whole thing...

Banksy is a genius. He is not an artistic genius although he is quite good. He is a genius at satire. He has chosen art as a way of expressing his satire much the same way as Warhol did but in a much less commercial way. Warhol ultimately did it for the money. Banksy does it to express his opinion and apparently cares little for money. I believe he was both the buyer and seller of this piece and the stunt was an expression of his satirical message.

This video was the most thorough I have ever seen regarding art. Thank you.

2:19 Why? WHY? WHY DID I NEED TO KNOW THIS? WHY DOES IT MATTER?

it just shows if u hold onto something u love it can be torn away from u!!

I was so curious about this! Thank you!

Genius way to give the finger to art institutions while making Banksy a household name

1. I can’t belive Ai Weiwei’s destruction of the Vase wasn’t mentioned 2. How do we know Banksy is a Him? Has that been confirmed?

Glad some artists became famous. Wev millions of artists who don’t get this recognition

It would be interesting to see if Banksy's work holds up in 200 years.

perhaps your best video so far.

Wow, feels like this is a "Case For" video in disguise. I find Banksy's aesthetic pretty insufferable, but you really got me thinking. Way to go!

There were sooooo many new insights I got about the art world from this video. Thank you

I wanted to more about Banksy and now I do!

I'm not that much into art, but I really like what he is doing. It's like a troll but the trolling itself is still considered art. Love it.

Banksy put the piece up for auction and bought it back. Let that marinate.

Brilliant video, thank you Sarah for broadening my understanding of this artwork and the context leading up to it. Great analysis!

This was really informative, thanks! My high school at teacher mentioned this a couple days ago and I really wanted to learn more

I'm amazed he has an Instagram with how he seems to be portraying himself or his art.

Yay! More art assignment! 😃

The painting with the colored child saying “I remember when this was all trees” really hit hard.

I will never understand why people love banksys artwork so much.

Wish I had this Mans brain an now the painting is worth millions. Ingenious

2:19 i can see why he shreded it

I absolutely love this shenanigan! I would love to come across a Banksy Bill they’re stunning!

Misattributing the "urge to destroy" quote to Picasso kinda ruined Banksy's street cred for me. The guy hasn't studied Bakunin? Wimp.

Brilliant video, thought I knew the story but the commentary expanded it so much.

Could you guys please make a video on Basquiat?? I would love it!

Banksy be like "We live in a society" *Painting gets sold for 1000000

I know it is unrelated but I have an assignment at school about Henri Matisse and I cannot find any good content about him.If you could pleaze make any sort of video about him I would be eternally thankful.(though i do understand that you propably dont take requests)I love your content!!! It is amazing!!💚💚💚🎨

The bottled Parian air, the urinal art pieces. The art is the conversation - not actually the piece itself. All PR stuff.

There's no way that sothebys wasnt in on it.

Banksy you the man. Love your work.

I have never been a fan of Banksy or his artwork. I strongly consider him a part of the mainstream art scene that many artists such as myself is fighting against. And this art piece verifies my suspension that everything is an act and not genuine. Banksy clearly increased the value of the piece when he shredded it. He had to know that was going to happen. Now the owner of the worked can say that they have been Banksied. A story to increase its value even more.

I subscribed as soon as I saw the PBS intro. You guys are killing it on interesting and informative content.

When you watch a youtube tutorial and that's all you can draw XD

i love this man

It was just his marketing skills that made that simple drawing cost now the double after that so call destroyed. If he really wanted to criticise the world of auctions he would have completely destroyed it. But no. He wanted his drawing to remain and to make it more expensive. He belongs more to the system he so much criticise than anyone else. He put that battery in the frame with the help of the auctioneers. They sat all together with cold minds thinking as great business men of how to make more money. Or will someone say a programmed battery last for so long? The true is that that drawing is not a great but the marketing skills are. Shall we call marketing skills art? Then as Duchamp everything can be art which means the word is emptied of meaning. I won't be surprised if one day destroying antique paintings will be called great art.

i would have bought the shredded one, such a cool thing to have in your home

Did banksy claim that the video was made in 2006? Couldnt he have made the painting in 06 and the frame in 2018? Maybe im just missing something

Greatest moment in art history.