Banksy Painting Self-Destructs at Sotheby`s Auction; Tokyo`s Iconic
LU STOUT: Welcome back, this is "News Stream." Art lovers around the world are still wondering just how British artist Banksy pulled off one of his boldest stunts yet at an auction in London. Now, moments after his iconic "Girl with Balloon" painting sold for more than a million dollars at Sotheby`s, it began to shred itself to pieces. There was speculation that Sotheby`s might have known about the prank beforehand, but Banksy`s former agent who has known him for many years told CNN that it is very unlikely that the artist colluded with Sotheby`s to pull off the prank. CNN`s Lynda Kinkade reports on this and some of the artist`s other stunts.</s>LYNDA KINKADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Moments after a buyer placed the $1.4 million winning bid on this famous Banksy artwork, a stunt like no other. The iconic image known as "Girl with Balloon" self-destructs. The artist delighting in the moment in real time on his Instagram account writing, going, going, gone. A shredder built into the frame rips the piece into strips at Sotheby`s auction house in London. Banksy says he added the shredder to the picture years ago just in case it was ever auctioned off. It`s not clear how the shredder was activated or how this will affect the art`s value. Could it worth more now?</s>WILL ELLSWORTH-JONES, CHIEF REPORTER AND NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT, SUNDAY TIMES: Well, that will be sad if it is.</s>KINKADE: Will Ellsworth-Jones, author of "Banksy: The Man Behind the Wall," says the artist has a clear message.</s>ELLSWORTH-JONES: It was a sort of protest against the way his paintings have been monetized. It`s become how much does a Banksy make, how much is it worth rather than a painting.</s>KINKADE: Banksy is known for using the element of surprise to make a point. Like the time he brought a truck of stuffed animals into New York meat packing district squeaking for help, or when he painted a finger of privilege (ph) by painting a butler serving a young graffiti artist on a ball (ph) in the Bronx. In a statement, Sotheby`s auction house said, we`ve been Banksy-ed. Lynda Kindade, CNN.</s>LU STOUT: Now, one of Tokyo`s iconic attractions and points of commerce is alas no more. The Tsukiji fish market for decades has drawn restaurant tourists and tourists alike, but now the market has closed its stores as it moves to a new location.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I am sad to see it Tsukiji close, but I do look forward to seeing what the land will be used for after this and how Tokyo will develop going forward.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Tsukiji is now a brand name and people buy from here because it is from Tsukiji. I am hearing a lot of people that Toyosu will not be the same and that is why people don`t want to move. I`ve been working here 23 years and don`t want to move either. This all brings up a lot of emotions in me.</s>LU STOUT: The new location is called the Toyosu Fish Market. It is due to open October the 16th. Big reason for the move was the fact that Tsukiji is on such valuable real estate in the center of Tokyo. And that is "News Stream." I`m Kristie Lu Stout. But don`t go anywhere. "World Sport" with Christina Macfarlane is next.