Banksy may set record in Auckland
A Banksy artwork produced in the early days of the elusive British street artist’s career could fetch more than $1 million at auction this month.
It would make the piece, Keep It Real, the most expensive work of art by a living, contemporary artist in New Zealand history, the International Art Centre said.
The 2003 signed artwork depicts a chimpanzee wearing a sandwich board inscribed with “Keep it real”. It will go under the hammer on March 30 at the International Art Centre in Parnell, Auckland.
The centre’s director, Richard Thomson, said the piece was expected to sell for $600,000 to $1m.
“Banksy is a modern-day art sensation. There is no one quite like him,” Thomson said.
Banksy is yet to be publicly identified.
“He’s an activist who is deeply concerned about social injustice and inequities and his works carry very powerful and controversial, but often subtle messages.”
Banksy was a friend of British graffiti artist King Robbo, although the friendship was known for a longrunning and public dispute between them.
Banksy was thought to have created Keep It Real about the time the pair patched up their differences and became friends, Thomson said.
The sale will also feature two other Banksy works, Choose your Weapon and Morons.
Choose your Weapon depicts a hooded man holding a dog and is believed to portray disaffected British youth and gang culture, where aggressive dogs are seen as weaponry.
The auction will also include works from Colin McCahon, Robyn Kahukiwa, Toss Woollaston, Pat Hanly, Philip Clairmont, Bill Hammond, Gretchen Albrecht and a 1968 work by Milan Mrkusich that was last exhibited in 1972.