A few days ago, an artist going by the nickname “Zalkian” made headlines with a controversial live auction, during which he set fire to his own artwork after receiving a $116,000 bid from an anonymous buyer.

The pseudonymous artist Zalkian, which for now hides his identity behind a full-face mask, has developed a unique system to offer his art. Instead of selling his artworks normally via galleries, he holds real-time auctions on his website where ambitious bidders have a few hours to bid on the artwork.

After the auction countdown reaches zero, the winning bid is decided, and the piece is sold. But there is a catch.

During the time that the livestream auction is unfolding, viewers who are watching live are given the option to participate by pressing a button on the website, which vividly reads “BURN”. If the button is pressed more times by people than the amount of the “winning” bid, then the artist is forced to burn the piece live on stream for everyone to see.

During an inferno auction event held a few days ago, bidders fought fiercely for a piece with the title “Peace off”; depicting a dove carrying a dollar bill with the iconic olive branch having been thrown in the trash. By the end, a six-figure bid seemed to be winning the auction, however the audience forced the artist to burn the artwork by the popular “Burn” vote. The stunt immediately stirred debate, but it’s the identity of one of the bidders that has now intensified the intrigue.

Initial rumors surrounding the mysterious bidders have now been corroborated by credible sources. A tip from someone within Damien Hirst’s team has suggested that the renowned art mogul was one of the two bidders vying for the piece until the very end. According to the source, Hirst was the one who won the auction—until the audience’s vote led to the artwork’s destruction, costing him a staggering $116,000.

When approached for comment, Hirst neither confirmed nor denied his participation in the bidding but acknowledged the performance. He praised Zalkian, comparing him to the enigmatic street artist Banksy:

“Yes, someone told me about this stunt, and the concept piqued my curiosity. I watched the live auction. I don’t know who’s behind the mask, but the way he presents and auctions his work is something that demands attention. Zalkian could easily be the next Banksy.”

Hirst’s involvement, or at least his awareness of the event, has deepened the mystery surrounding the auction. While it’s plausible that he learned about the performance through social media—where the stunt was widely promoted—the level of interest, particularly in offering $116,000, has raised eyebrows.

Many are speculating that Zalkian may not be a random newcomer but a well-established artist experimenting with a new persona. His activity actually began some 15 years ago, but the artist has held a low profile until recently. Theories range from Zalkian being Banksy himself to the more far-fetched suggestion that Damien Hirst is actually the mind behind the reappearance of the artist. However, most art insiders have dismissed these ideas as mere speculation, with one calling them “the delusional products of childish imagination.”

Regardless of his true identity, one thing is clear: Zalkian is generating buzz. Whether he will become “the next Banksy” remains to be seen, but his growing fanbase and carefully orchestrated performances, suggest that he will definitely stir the waters within the art scene. As anticipation builds for his next “inferno auction”, the art world watches closely.