Welcome to Intelligence Squared where Great Minds meet. I'm head of programming Connor Boyle.

Today, something a little different, we're excited to share with you a hand-picked episode of a brand new series,

The Specialist, produced by Intelligence Squared, in partnership with Sotheby's. We've all heard the

stories of the record-breaking works, headline-grabbing auctions and moments that

shock the art world and beyond. But have you ever wondered what's happening behind the scenes?

What goes into valuing a masterpiece or who the people are really behind the gavel?

The specialist brings you art's most extraordinary stories, told by the experts who witnessed them

in short episodes, perfect for a weekend listen.

Now, over to the specialist.

If anything, the work itself is about the art market.

And so getting a sort of peek beneath the curtain as to the process of bringing a work like that to auction

actually reveals a lot about the dynamics of the market itself,

and I think speaks to the mechanics of what makes the artwork powerful.

And for me, it was a less interesting gut and instinct, and it was a reminder that pushing

the envelope a little bit can be sometimes the most rewarding thing.

Sotheby's is the temporary custodian of some of the world's most rare, remarkable and coveted

art and objects.

In each episode, we'll be exploring the significance and journey of an extraordinary work

told by those who know it best.

This is The Specialist.

No other artwork from the 21st century has provoked scandal, sparked imagination,

and upended the very definition of contemporary art like Mauritio Catalan's comedian.

...