This Wednesday, June 5th, the artist Ben passed away at the age of 88. “Inclassifiable, impertinent, audacious, obsessive, unexpected, sad, eruptive, crazy and wise,” are the words used by Christian Estrosi to describe this artist.
The artist Ben, whose real name is Benjamin Vautier, was found dead this Wednesday, June 5th, at his residence. “Popular thanks to his famous screen-printed writings, Ben was one of those artists brimmed with talent, imagination, and audacity who made up the Ecole de Nice,” mentions Charles Ange Ginésy. Known for his slogans in white handwriting on a black background, the artist Ben, born in 1935, passed away at the age of 88, the day after the death of his wife.
Who was the artist Ben?
The artist Ben is an important 20th-century artist. A French artist of Swiss origin, he is best known for his handwritten phrases with incisive humor or philosophical reflection. Ben is part of the Fluxus movement, a kind of mindset, a space of freedom, sharing, and friendship.
A great loss for the city of Nice, but not only
Various personalities have expressed themselves about his death. Like the Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi: “But in every joy, there is an immense sadness. Mine is infinite, because I lose a dear friend, who never minced his words yet welcomed me with that spark in his eye that was entirely him. Allow me to keep my sorrow to myself.”
He adds: “Like Henri Matisse, Ben is Nice. It is a joy and happiness for our city, some would even say an honor, but it doesn’t suit him. A joy and happiness that do not fade with him, as he is there, everywhere, in our daily life, with his questions, his anticipations, his imprecations about art, about us, about the world as it is, and mostly as it is not.”
This is also the case for Charles Ange Ginésy, President of the Alpes-Maritimes Departmental Council: “It is with emotion and sadness that I learn of the death of the artist Ben, an essential figure of contemporary French art. The art world is in mourning.”
Other personalities have expressed themselves, notably on the network X. Like the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati: “With the passing of Benjamin Vautier, the world of Culture loses a legend. His free spirit will be greatly missed, but his art continues to make France shine around the world.”
Or even Eric Ciotti, president of the Republicans.
