Banky, Happy Choppers, (2006). Courtesy Anderson & Garland
A rare work by Bankee, the elusive British artist, who was famous for his humor and political road art, is being re -discovered after the auction and rescued by a team of reminisks experts.
In 2008, the owner of an office building in London’s Shoredich neighborhood was flipping through a book dedicated to the local work of a banquet, when he recognized his property in one of the images. After running into the building, he found that the art was painted – but not completely. A small part of a helicopter propeller from the original work was still visible at the top.
“We were surprised to know that our newly purchased office building was an canvas for an artwork of this importance,” the owner said, who has chosen to remain anonymous in a statement.
The work was originally depicted by Bankee in 2006, as was documented by his former manager Steve Lazarides Banky captured (Volume 1). Officer Happy Chopper, Its depiction of helicopters is a regular form used by Bankee, which has included aircraft in previous works like 2003 Wrong war Placards. The painting was considered a security risk by the former owner of the building, which later covered the work in black paint and neglected his existence when selling property.
A complex restoration process
On knowing that he was now in the possession of a banquet, the current owner of the building listed a London -based company Fine Art Restoration Company, which had previously restored the banquet works. The restoration process was a complex – for the beginning, Happy choppers Its rupture cannot be removed as a piece from fear of breakdown, and was removed from the building in classes instead. “For our knowledge, no one had tried to save a delicate work of high-profile street art in this way,” the owner said.
Challenges were also presented through the banquet of spray paint. In a statement, in a statement, our patrons did not use the traditionally found medium in art, our patrons examined the chemistry of the original pigment and developed new techniques. “The year -long process included pollutants, city air and insect cleaning, which contaminated the work surface and removed the overpant and local frescoes added to the top of the work.
Now, fully restored painting is ready for a new house. This will hit the auction block at the end of this month when he will highlight Spring fine art auction For Anderson and Garland, an auction house located in Newcastle. Happy choppersIn which it is estimated between £ 500,000 ($ 633,000) and £ 700,000 ($ 886,000), will be seen in the auctioneer’s annum before the March 20 sales.
“In favor of an office block, earlier, it has been restored and professionally adapted to domestic ratio,” Anderson and Garland director Fred Vikle-Birch said in a statement. “We are hoping that institutions are interested in this important piece so that the enthusiasts of the bank work can enjoy it for the coming years.”