Banksy’s Painted Car Door Races To Auction, Where It Could Fetch Six Digits
Image via Banksy
Banksy’s Crazy Horse artwork, crafted by the faceless graffitist on a car door, is galloping to be sold by way of Julien’s Auctions at its upcoming Street Art event, where it could command a price tag ranging from US$100,000 to US$200,000.
Originating from the artist’s notable 2013 New York City installation, Better Out Than In, in the bustling Lower East Side, Crazy Horse is set against the backdrop of Ludlow and Stanton streets. It showcases a harrowing scene of horses in mid-stampede, bearing down on a cluster of panic-stricken people.
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During his month-long residency in the city, Banksy delivered a new piece of artwork every day. Crazy Horse not only marked one of those days in the urban exhibition but also cast a spotlight on a controversial military action. Visitors were invited to dial a provided phone number, which played audio clips from a 2007 Apache helicopter airstrike in Baghdad—a tragic event that claimed the lives of two Reuters journalists among others. The recordings that Banksy used were made public by Wikileaks in 2010.
The call sign of the helicopter involved, Crazy Horse 18, lent its name to Banksy’s piece, installed on October 9, 2013, embedding it with a gripping layer that challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable truths, like the complexities of war and the role of journalism.
Image via Julien’s Auctions
As Crazy Horse prepares to go under the hammer at Beverly Hills on February 15, its significance intensifies in the midst of another war. Accompanying the car door canvas is a custom display stand and the paint-splattered traffic cone that originally appeared in the artwork. Online bidding is currently underway.
Image via Julien’s Auctions
[via Robb Report and Uncrate, images via various sources]
