Banksy’s iconic ‘Slave Labour’ mural has been sold for over $700,000 to an artist who plans to destroy it.
The ‘Slave Labour’ mural was painted in Wood Green in 2012 and is of a child on his knees sewing a Union Jack bunting. It was later removed due to its political content in advance of the 2012 London Olympics.
Now, US artist Ron English has bought the painting and plans to paint over it. This follows the recent stunt where Banksy shredded one of his most iconic painting moments after it sold for $1.1 million. It looks like Ron English has similar plans.
“My idea for this painting is to whitewash it for my good pal Banksy, I only wish I could’ve spent more money on it,” he said.
“I’m going to paint it white again, I’m done. This is a blow to street art. It shouldn’t be bought and sold. I’m going to paint over it and just include it in one of the walls in my house. We’re tired of people stealing our stuff off the streets and re-selling it so I’m just going to buy everything I can get my hands on and whitewash it.”
Somewhat ironically, English then plans to sell his whitewashed version of the painting for $1 million.
#Banksy has shared video showing how he installed a shredder into a picture frame, which was used to destroy one of his paintings that sold for $1.1 million https://t.co/siSeiF1rQh pic.twitter.com/lvWVoY4Ecf
— Consequence of Sound (@consequence) October 6, 2018
