Originally published on Hypeart.com
Holywell Row Happy Helicopters is a work of street art by Banksy that first graced the exterior of a Shoreditch office building in London back in 2006. However, the overwhelming attention from crowds activating the building’s security lights prompted the property owner to obscure the artwork with black paint and subsequently sell the offices.
The new owner remained oblivious to the hidden masterpiece until stumbling upon it in a book entitled “Banksy Captured” by Steve Lazarides. Astonished by the discovery, the owner initiated a restoration project to salvage the significance of the artwork. The restoration process involved meticulous removal of the three-inch-thick render, a task compounded by the unconventional materials used in the mural’s creation.
Despite the challenges, restoration specialists successfully dissected the piece into eight sections for careful restoration, preserving its integrity. The artwork, spanning six by four feet, features three imposing Apache helicopters adorned with whimsical pink bows, a recurring motif in Banksy’s body of work. Now, the restored masterpiece is poised for auction at Anderson & Garland’s prestigious Spring Country House & Fine Interiors Auction, with an estimated price ranging from £500,000 to £700,000.
As pert Artnet, Anderson & Garland‘s director, Fred Wyrley-Birch, expresses hope that institutions will acquire the artwork, ensuring its accessibility to enthusiasts of Banksy’s work for years to come. In preparation for the auction, three viewing days are scheduled on March 15, 16, and 18 this year — providing prospective buyers with the opportunity to examine the piece up close.
