London Oct 6 (IANS) A stencil spray painting by secretive artist Banksy shredded itself after it was sold in Sotheby s auction house here for more than 1 million pounds.
"Girl With Balloon" one of Banksy s most widely recognised works shows a girl reaching towards a heart-shaped balloon and was the final work sold at the auction on Friday night the BBC reported.
However in a twist to be expected from street art s most subversive character the canvas suddenly passed through a shredder installed in the frame.
Posting a picture of the moment on Instagram Banksy wrote: "Going going gone..."
"It appears we just got Banksy-ed " said Alex Branczik Sotheby s senior director and head of contemporary art in Europe.
Banksy is a Bristol-born artist whose true identity despite rampant speculation has never been officially revealed.
He came to prominence through a series of graffiti pieces that appeared on buildings across the country marked by deeply satirical undertones.
Friday s self-destruction was the latest in a long history of anti-establishment statements by the street artist.
"Girl With Balloon" originally appeared on a wall in Great Eastern Street London.
In 2017 it was voted the nation s favourite artwork. The gallery version featured spray paint and acrylic on canvas mounted on a board.

--IANS ksk/bg