Banksy has correctly mocked the art world before, and all the so-called 'experts' that nagivate therein. For which I respect him.

This time, however, and given the very real possibility of legal liability, I can only assume both Sotheby's and the buyer must have been in on the plan, and given express consent to let him execute this little stunt.

This, in my view, greatly undermines the value of the message he was likely trying to convey. He ends up looking like an pre-fab revolutionary figure.