A bulletproof vest decorated with the Union Jack flag created by British street artist Banksy, similar to the one worn by hip-hop star Stormzy at the Glastonbury festival, was sold in London on Wednesday for 780,000 pounds (932,000 euros) at Sotheby’s.
The vest, made from old police clothing, is one of five vests created by the graffiti artist to highlight the high levels of knife crime in the UK. It was estimated at 300,000 pounds.
British rapper Stormzy made the vest famous when he wore another one from the same collection during his 2019 concert on the Glastonbury main stage.
“As only Banksy can, he manages to powerfully condense a complex social issue through a flamboyant object,” said Emma Baker, head of contemporary art evening sales at Sotheby’s.
“There is no doubt that this work is more relevant today than when the first vest was presented at Glastonbury, an event which saw it become the symbol of a defining cultural moment,” she added .
Last month, London police charged two men with burglary after Banksy’s “Girl with Balloon” was stolen from a gallery in the British capital.
published on October 9 at 10:22 p.m., AFP
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