Enlarge image
Banksy artwork "Game Changer": A picture to thank the University Hospital in Southampton
Photo:
Banksy Instagram / REUTERS
A work by British street artist Banksy was auctioned on Tuesday for 16.8 million British pounds (19.5 million euros) in London.
After deducting fees, the proceeds will now benefit the University Hospital in Southampton in the south of England and other NHS organizations, according to the Christie's auction website.
It is the highest amount ever raised for a Banksy work.
The estimated value was between £ 2.5 million and £ 3.5 million.
The previous record price: £ 9.9 million
Banksy had sent the one-square-meter picture entitled "Game Changer" to the clinic last year and thanked them for their work in the pandemic.
It shows a little boy in dungarees playing with a nurse doll that stretches out her arm like Superman in flight.
Behind it you can see a wastepaper basket with characters from Batman and Spiderman in it.
In a note to the hospital staff, the British street artist wrote: "Thank you for everything you do".
He hopes the picture will "brighten up the place, even if it is only in black and white."
It was already clear then that the work would later be auctioned to raise money for the NHS.
A copy should be kept at the hospital.
Banksy's works, whose identity is known only to the initiated, are in great demand.
The previous record price of 9.9 million pounds was achieved in 2019 by the picture "Devolved Parliament".
It shows the British House of Commons where chimpanzees lead the debate.
sak / dpa / afp