![‘Game Changer’ set a new record for Banksy. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to the NHS. Photo: © Christie's [detail]](https://images.prismic.io/barnebys/18202fd7-f56f-4e5d-a697-dde314b6c0d7_Cover.jpeg?auto=compress,format)
On 6 May 2020, in the midst of the first wave of COVID-19, as doctors and medical staff redoubled their efforts to deal with a still relatively unknown threat, a package was dropped off at the University Hospital of Southampton. It contained a 36- x 36-inch oil painting of a young boy playing with superhero figures. But it was not Batman or Spiderman who monopolised the attention of the young boy, rather a nurse dressed in a cape, which he proudly flies in the air.
The work signed by Banksy, titled Game Changer, was accompanied by a small message saying: “Thanks for all you're doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it’s only black and white”.
The canvas was hung in the hallway of the hospital to support the staff on a daily basis.
“All the staff have described this painting and the impact it’s had on the hospital as joyous, it has made a huge difference to the morale of the hospital and the people who are woking in here,” said Paula Head, chief executive of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
See also: The 10 Most Expensive Living Artists
Today, the original work is replaced by a copy, as it was auctioned on 23 March during an evening sale at Christie's. After a long bidding battle over the phone and the internet, the hammer finally fell at £16.7 million, including fees. The estimate had been set at between £2.5 million and £3.5 million.
All proceeds will be donated to UK medical and charities. Christie's has also said it will donate a significant portion of the buyer's premium to these organisations.
The auction represents a new world record for a work by the mysterious street artist. The precedent was set in the fall of 2019, when Devolved Parliament went for £9.9 million.
These two records prove that Banksy manages to strike a chord with the public by dealing with current themes, such as Brexit and the pandemic.
