Banksy Painting, Game Changer, Sold for Over AUD $30 Million

Game Changer sets a new auction world record

When it comes to Banksy paintings, people can expect something unique, relevant, and creative. This was proven once again as the artist created a piece depicting the COVID-19 situation entitled Game Changer. This terrific piece was sold recently for more than AUD 30 million. Read on to know more about it.

The Game Changer shows a young boy who is playing with a toy nurse depicted as a superhero. The Banksy painting set an auction record for the elusive artist. This painting by Banksy was revealed at University Hospital Southampton in May 2020. It came with a note that read- ‘Thanks for all you’re doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it’s only black and white.”

Game Changer paid tribute to Britain’s Nation Health Service frontline workers who fought against the COVID-19 pandemic. The key highlight of the painting by Banksy is that the nurse is wearing a cape that resembles a superhero cape while traditional superheroes like Spiderman and Batman are lying in a bin behind the kid.

The auction during which Game Changer was sold was held online and streamed live. The proceeds from Banksy’s unique painting will go towards “supporting the wellbeing of University Hospital Southampton staff and patients.” The auction was held on Tuesday, a remarkable day for Britons as it marked one year since the day the country first went into a lockdown. It included staying silent for a minute to pay tribute to 126,000 people in the country who lost their lives to COVID-19.

The elusive street artist has made people talk about him with the Game Changer. He has been active since 1990 and became particularly famous during the pandemic as he released many pieces that got people talking. Some of them even sparked topical debate, while others amused.

Explaining the Game Changer by Banksy, Christie’s wrote this- “In a time of rapid and unsteady change, Game Changer ultimately offers an image of hope. Irreverence, parody, and calls to arms are absent: instead, it represents a personal tribute to those who continue to turn the tide of the pandemic. Its style is one of nostalgic purity, yet its message looks firmly towards to the future. As an artwork, however, it will remain forever a symbol of its time: a reminder of the world’s real game changers, and of the vital work they perform.”

Banksy painting was auctioned at Christie’s

#AuctionUpdate On the National Day of Reflection in the UK, Banky's Game Changer sells for £16,758,000, setting a new #WorldAuctionRecord for the artist. Proceeds from the sale will be used to support health organisations and charities across the UK: https://t.co/dSjnlMDhRT pic.twitter.com/kSajXqgzLm

— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) March 23, 2021