A painting by Banksy has been sold at auction for over 5 million dollars

A rare painting of the street artist Banksy, Inspired by a famous canvas of the Scottish painter Jack Vettriano, recently disappeared, was sold for almost 4.3 million pounds (over 5 million euros). Nicknamed “Crude Oil (Vettriano)” and “Toxic Beach”, the painting was beaten by Sotheby’s in London. It was presented for the first time in the great Banksy exhibition of 2005.

In the work Banksy re -elaborates a well -known scene of the British artist, who died on March 1, adding a oil tanker who sinks and two men in antigas suit that transport a barrel of toxic waste on the beach. The painting was sold by Sotheby’s from American musician and record producer Mark Hoppus, co-founder of the Pop-Punk Blink-182 band. “Banksy has used its trademark, humor and irony here, to produce an image that addresses urgent issues typical of this century, such as the environment, pollution and capitalist landscape”. The work is “more current than ever, given the growing frequency of natural disasters,” he added.

Hoppus said that his family loved Banksy’s painting since he bought him. “That painting saw many laughter and many tears, parties and quarrels. Our son grew up in front, “he said. But now he wanted to use part of the proceeds of the sale To “buy works by younger and emerging artists”. The singer, according to what Sotheby’s announced, will donate a part of the proceeds to two medical associations in Los Angeles and the California Fire Foundation, following the devastating fires that hit the city in January.