An iconic piece of street art by Parisian artist Invader rendering cartoon character Hong Kong Phooey is to auction at Sotheby's Boundless contemporary auction in Hong Kong on January 20.

The work, executed in the artist's trademark tiles, carries an estimate of $128,980-193,470.

Invader's rendering of Hong Kong Phooey originally stood in the city's Happy Valley district

In a controversial move, the original was removed from a wall in the city's Happy Valley district - leading to a storm of outrage from locals.

Invader commented in a statement published in the South China Morning Post early in 2014:  "I have never faced a situation where a public authority would systematically and rapidly remove the art from the streets".

"What message would you send to your citizens? What modern cultural heritage do you want to leave them?"

In response he created one of the largest series of citywide works he has ever produced.

Sotheby's explain: "The original "invasion" took place in two separate installations in early 2014: one in Happy Valley and the other in Mong Kok.

"The former has since been destroyed by local authorities; the present lot is a unique Alias work based on the Happy Valley installation, standing as lone testimony to an 'invasion' that is no longer there. 2014 marks the artist's third round of "invasion" in Hong Kong, with the works now totalling more than 70."

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