Banksy mural torn off London Poundland store for Miami auction

[alp227]

A Banksy mural has been put up for auction on a US website with a guide price of up to £450,000 after being removed from a building in north London.

The artwork of a barefoot boy using a sewing machine to stitch union flag bunting, apparently in a sweatshop, appeared on the outside wall of a Poundland shop in Wood Green in May. It was widely interpreted as condemning child labour and mocking the impending Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations.

Haringey councillor Alan Strickland said locals were angry at the removal of the mural and urged people to email the auctioneers to demand that it be removed from sale.

It was discovered to have been removed over the weekend and later emerged for sale with Fine Art Auctions Miami with a guide price of $500,000 to $700,000 (£323,000 to £452,000). Bidding for the picture, titled "Banksy Slave Labor (Bunting Boy). London 2012", closes on Saturday.

full: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2013/feb/18/banksy-london-miami-auction

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. How does one remove a mural from a building?

I thought Banksy drew his works directly onto the wall surface..right?
If so, how do you remove something like that, intact?
And not be noticed?

[progressoid]

2. I imagine the owner of the building will cut the wall out.

Will be tricky, but not impossible.