Removed Banksy artwork to be auctioned
A Banksy artwork cut down from a north London street is to be auctioned, just months after another in the same borough was controversially sold for a reported £750,000 (€869,000).
No Ball Games was removed from the side of a shop in Turnpike Lane, Tottenham Green, and will be sold next year by the Sincura Group – the company which arranged the sale of Slave Labour in May.
The Sincura Group claims the street graffiti, which shows two children playing with a sign that reads No Ball Games, has been “salvaged for renovation” and is now under their management.
A statement on its website reads: “A number of attempts have been made over the past to deface the piece, most famously in 2012 by King Robbo who holds a rivalry with the elusive artist.
“With extensive building works taking place in the local vicinity, and further concerns upon its safety, the piece has been removed to be sensitively restored to its former glory.”
It added that it intends to sell the artwork, created by street artist Banksy in 2009, next year and in the meantime it has been “gifted” to a local charity.
The company sparked outrage among residents earlier this year when it announced it was selling Slave Labour, which depicts a young boy hunched over a sewing machine making Union Jack bunting.
The unsuccessful campaign to return the “symbol of local pride” to Wood Green was supported by Haringey Council, which now faces the prospect of a second battle.
But the company insists it has committed no “wrongdoing”.
“The Sincura Group do not condone any acts of wanton vandalism or other illegal activity, however after carrying out extensive due diligence with regard the works’ provenance and ownership we are entirely satisfied that there are no wrong-doings entered in to and are happy to be representing the No Ball Games piece,” the statement added.
No Ball Games will be one of three “controversial headline pieces” to be sold at the auction.
A spokesman for Haringey Borough Council told the Haringey Independent that it is trying to contact the owners of the building to find out more information.
