In the unpredictable world of art and automotive enthusiasts, a car door from a late 1990s Mazda Protege has emerged as a potential collector’s gem, with a staggering estimated value of $200,000. This unexpected valuation raises eyebrows, considering it could rival the cost of a brand-new Porsche 911 Turbo. What makes this seemingly ordinary door extraordinary is its origin – a piece of highly collectible artwork from Banksy’s 2013 installation, Crazy Horse, during his residency in New York.
The Unique Canvas: Unlike conventional art pieces, this car door is not just a canvas; it’s an integral part of Banksy’s renowned Crazy Horse installation. The installation, known for its political and innovative themes, featured an abandoned Mazda sedan, a box truck, traffic cones, and barrels, all transformed by Banksy’s distinctive aerosol painting style. The imagery, with terrified men in gun sights and stampeding horses wearing night vision goggles, delivers a powerful and thought-provoking visual narrative.
Crazy Horse Origins: Named after the Apache helicopter with the call sign Crazy Horse 18, the installation commemorates a tragic airstrike in Iraq in 2007 that led to civilian fatalities. Banksy’s creation included a phone number that, when dialed, played audio clips related to the incident, adding layers of depth and commentary to the overall piece.
Auction Details: Now, the Mazda door, a surviving relic from the original Crazy Horse installation, is up for auction at Julien’s Auction’s Street Art sale, starting with a bid of $25,000. The door, presented on a custom display stand alongside an original traffic cone from the installation, is making its second appearance on the auction block after remaining unsold previously due to an unmet reserve. With a pre-sale estimate ranging from $100,000 to $200,000, this unique piece of Banksy’s legacy offers an opportunity for art enthusiasts to own a tangible fragment of street art history.
As bidding for this extraordinary Mazda door is already underway online, the art and automotive worlds eagerly await the outcome of the auction scheduled for February 15, 2024, in Beverly Hills. Whether this unconventional canvas becomes a symbolic masterpiece in someone’s collection or an artistic anomaly remains to be seen, challenging traditional perceptions of value in both the art and automotive realms.
