Phillips to Accept Cryptocurrency for a Physical Artwork for the First Time in Company History

Auction House to Accept Cryptocurrency for Banksy’s ‘Laugh Now Panel A’ in the 20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale in Collaboration with Poly Auction

HONG KONG, May 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Phillips is pleased to announce it will accept cryptocurrency as an optional payment method for Banksy’s Laugh Now Panel A (Estimate:HK$22,000,000 – 32,000,000/ US$ 2,820,000 – 4,100,000), to be offered in the 20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale in collaboration with Poly Auction. The two houses kicked off the Asia touring previews in Beijing this week with the exhibition now opening in Shanghai today, before travelling to Shenzhen, Taipei, Taichung and Hong Kong, ahead of the auctions on 7-8 June.

Banksy - Laugh Now Panel A, 2002. spray paint and emulsion on dry wall, 178.5 x 74 cm. Estimate: HK$22,000,000 – 32,000,000/ US$ 2,820,000 - 4,100,000
Banksy – Laugh Now Panel A, 2002. spray paint and emulsion on dry wall, 178.5 x 74 cm. Estimate: HK$22,000,000 – 32,000,000/ US$ 2,820,000 – 4,100,000

This marks the first time a major auction house in Asia will accept Bitcoin or Ether as a payment option for a physical work of art. This follows the success of Phillips’ inaugural NFT sale of Mad Dog Jones’ multi-generational NFT, REPLICATOR, which sold for over US$4 million in April. Bidding for Laugh Now Panel A will be conducted in Hong Kong Dollars, and the winning buyer will have the option to pay the hammer price as well as the buyer’s premium with cryptocurrency into the Company’s wallet with Coinbase.

Asian buyers and collectors are ahead of the market and continue to be receptive to innovative ideas. From the world’s first major NFT exhibition held in China, to Asia’s first NFT music video art series launched by the acclaimed Hong Kong photographer Wing Shya in collaboration with Chinese pop singer Eric Chou, discussions surrounding NFTs and cryptocurrencies remain prevalent across the region. As Phillips continues to diversify and experiment with its offerings in its Asia sales, and in response to the increasing number of collectors who are tech-sensitive, the company is excited to introduce cryptocurrencies as a payment method for a physical artwork for the first time in company history at the marquee Evening Sale in Asia.

Laugh Now Panel A, 2002, hails from anonymous artist and social activist Banksy’s well-known Laugh Now series. For the past two decades, Banksy’s work has drawn both praise and controversy, and nowhere is his simultaneous appeal and notoriety more present than in the present work, Laugh Now Panel A. It portrays a forlorn monkey, wearing a sandwich-board bearing a very specific memo: "Laugh now, but one day we’ll be in charge". Comprised of his signature means of urban expression — namely with the depicted board spray-painted with his own stencil designs — the sardonic work perfectly encapsulates Banksy’s modus operandi while conjuring dark and cynical thematic undertones.

Banksy has been a disruptor in the art world with his distinctive oeuvre characterized by dark humour, satire and political commentary. Many of Banksy’s iconic original murals were transformed into canvas and editioned prints by the artist, allowing for the dissemination of his mischievous and satirical messages to wider audiences. By offering participants this new payment option to acquire Laugh Now Panel A, Phillips connects Banksy’s bold creations with tech-savvy collectors eager to quickly adapt to new technological advances.

20th Century & Contemporary Art and Design Spring Sales

Day Sale: Monday, 7 June, 11am | Evening Sale: Tuesday, 8 June, 6pm
Location: JW Marriott, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong

Asia Touring Previews

Date

City

3-4 May

10am to 6pm

Beijing

Pavilion Ballroom, Rosewood Beijing, Jing Guang Center, Hujialou, Chaoyang District

8-9 May

10am to 6pm

Shanghai

Jing An Grand Ballroom I, Jing An Shangri-La, 1218 Middle Yan’an Road, Jing An District,

22-23 May

10am to 6pm

Shenzhen

Raffles Shenzhen, T7, One Shenzhen Bay, 3008 Zhongxin Road, Nanshan District

22-23 May

11am to 6pm

Taipei

B1 Art Gallery, Bellavita, No.28, Songren Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan

26 May

11am to 6pm

Taichung

Fong-Yi Art Gallery, B1, No. 110, Sec. 1, Wuquan W. Rd., West Dist., Taichung, Taiwan

4-7 June 10am to 7pm

8 June 10am to 6pm

Hong Kong

JW Marriott Hotel, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong

ABOUT PHILLIPS

Phillips is a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century art and design. With dedicated expertise in the areas of 20th Century and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewelry, Phillips offers professional services and advice on all aspects of collecting. Auctions and exhibitions are held at salerooms in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, while clients are further served through representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Phillips also offers an online auction platform accessible anywhere in the world. In addition to providing selling and buying opportunities through auction, Phillips brokers private sales and offers assistance with appraisals, valuations, and other financial services. Visit www.phillips.com for further information.

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