A mural of 3 by 3.5 meters by the British artist Banksy has arrived in the Netherlands from England. The painting, the ‘White House Rat’, was made in 2004 for the Liverpool Biennial and will be auctioned in May by auction house Hessink’s in Zwolle.
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The work arrived in Hoek van Holland on Saturday, where it had to be cleared at customs, says a spokesman for Hessink’s. Subsequently, the 500 kg colossus was transported by truck to Staphorst, where it is temporarily stored. Next week the artwork will be transferred to the auction house in Zwolle.
Hessink’s is housed in a water tower. The artwork cannot just enter there. A crane rental company must be involved in lifting the colossus over the building next week so that it can enter from the rear. It is not yet known exactly when this will happen. ‘That depends on the weather. Snow and hail have been predicted. It has to go between showers, ‘said the spokesperson.
The original work was even bigger, but only the rat’s torso could be detached. The auction house has no idea what the work will yield.
Hessink’s previously sold some pieces of Banksy street art to owners of houses the artist had painted on.
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