The famous auction house Sotheby's has announced the upcoming auction of the painting "Crude Oil (Vettriano)" by the mysterious street artist Banksy. According to Sotheby's, Banksy has used his characteristic humor and irony to tackle major issues of the 21st century, such as the environment, pollution, and capitalism through this image.
The work, which was first exhibited in a major Banksy exhibition in 2005, is a reinterpretation of "The Singing Butler" by Jack Vettriano, depicting a couple dancing on a beach alongside a butler and a maid struggling to hold umbrellas. However, in Banksy's version, the scene is set on a beach affected by an oil spill, with rescue teams attempting to contain the aftermath of the environmental catastrophe.
The decision to auction this Banksy painting at Sotheby's comes shortly after the death of the 73-year-old self-taught Scottish artist, whose body was found in his apartment in Nice, France. "The Singing Butler," Vettriano's most famous work, was sold at auction in 2004 for nearly $95,000.
The painting "Crude Oil (Vettriano)" comes from the collection of American musician Mark Hoppus, co-founder of the punk band Blink-182. Sotheby's estimates that Banksy's work will reach a value between £3 and £5 million at the London auction, equivalent to about €4 to €6 million. This Banksy piece is known for its activist message and is part of his extensive repertoire of graffiti and paintings that challenge the status quo.