LONDON: Two works by the mystery British artist Banksy belonging to the singer Robbie Williams both sold for several million pounds at auction in London on Wednesday.

“Vandalised Oil (Choppers)”, showing two low-flying military helicopters buzzing a pastoral idyll, went for nearly 4.4 million ($5.9m).

The work — described by auction house Sotheby’s as depicting the artist’s “anti-war message” — had been expected to go for between 2.5m and 3.5m.

It recalls the Vietnam war. In its catalogue note, Sotheby’s said it also reflected Banksy’s opposition to the second Iraq war, when he handed out stencilled placards at London protests in 2003.

Another Banksy owned by former Take That singer Williams, “Girl with Balloon”, in spray paint on metal, sold for just over 2.8m, having been priced at 2-3m.

Williams acquired it directly from the elusive graffiti artist in 2006. The picture is one of his most famous images, showing a young girl holding her hand out towards a red heart-shaped balloon.

Banksy has reproduced the image in a number of different forms.

A partially shredded version — “Love is in the Bin” — sold at Sotheby’s in October last year for a staggering 18.58m in a new record for a British artist.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2022