Can We Just Admit That Banksy’s Art-Shredding Stunt Is Actually Really Good? It is OK to let yourself like this confounding bit of auction theater. Look, I kinda like Banksy (http://www.artnet.com/artists/banksy/). I know that’s not really a cool position to stake out. It is actually amazing how quickly the public reaction to what is obviously a pretty great prank – his “self-destructing” version of Girl With Balloon at last Friday’s Sotheby’s sale, moments after it sold for a record price – turned into dismissal and condemnation. “Banksy’s prank is cynical, damaging and highly suspicious,” thundered a totally unsolicited op-ed that rolled into by email inbox on Saturday, denouncing Banksy and his suspected collusion with Sotheby’s on the prank. “This publicity stunt is demeaning to all involved. They have treated the public and the art world with mocking contempt,” Stephen Howes of Thomas Crown Art went on to declare righteously. Such outrage! It is truly funny for uninvolved parties sending out press releases to denounce other people for publicity seeking. (The gentleman in question runs a cryptocurrency-art business: https://thomascrown.art/pages/about-us) Banksy’s Girl with a Balloon appeared to shred itself after selling for $1.4 million at Sotheby’s on Friday night (foto Sotheby’s) Aside … Meer lezen over Ben Davis – Can We Just Admit That Banksy’s Stunt Is Actually Really Good? + Sarah Cascone – New Banksy Video Shows How His Sensational Sotheby’s Stunt Was SUPPOSED to Work