Ben VAUTIER:
Untitled (Ben sous Klein = Klein sous Ben)

Multiple. Mail Art. Attitude Art.
A square cardboard sheet, 17.5x17.5 cm, one side painted all
over in blue acrylic (IKB monochrome). On the other side, number
in the edition and signature, in black ballpoint pencil.
Edition
of 100 numbered and signed copies. (1960).
This piece should come with
a rubberstamp "Ben sous Klein = Klein sous Ben", as
it is referenced in the catalogue of the show at the MAC, Marseille
and in the book 'Tout Ben', 1974, p. 48. We have not this rubberstamp,
but we do have a certificate by Ben made in 1997, that we join
to the piece.
Text of the certificate: Typed: "The xerox copy you sent
me is a part of a mail art piece made in 1960 accompanied by
a rubber stamp "Ben sous Klein = Klein sous Ben" (Photo
you will find in the catalogue of the Mac Marseille and in the
book Tout Ben, page 48, in the section Vrais Real, Pastiches
Fake et Faux False) n°../100 considered as
a mail art piece Attitude Art." Handwritten in black felt
pencil: "It is rare" and Ben's signature.
"En Janvier 1961, j'aî pastiché pour créer.
Lorsque je pastiche pour créer, la création originale
est dans l'intention que je porte en moi de créer une
personnalité en pastichant. Il faut qu'un faux Klein par
Ben soit un faux Klein par Ben et non un faux Klein seulement.
Jusqu'à nos jours, l'Artiste ignorait encore la beauté
du postiche par peur de ne pas être original. Car, soit
il pastiche pour pasticher et accorde moins de valeur à
son pastiche qu'à l'original. Soit, il pastiche inconsciemment
et croit être personnel. Soit, il pastiche en manière
de plaisanterie. Mes Pastiches sont accompagnés d'un Certificat
d'authenticité de Pastiche. BEN."
BEN (VAUTIER):
D'ont Smoke

Multiple. Object.
Red cardboard cigar box (trademark: "Vautier Prestige"!).
Cigarillos, cardboard box and a loose white card sheet with handwritten
text and number in the edition in black felt pen.
Box, closed: 12.6x18.8x3.8 cm.
Early '60ies.
Edition of 300 handnumbered copies, signed "Ben Vautier"
the way he was signing at this early period, before he started
signing only "Ben".
Ben VAUTIER:
Untitled
Announcement.
Piece of wood, 10x7.6x0.4 cm, in a postcard shape. Both sides.
On the front, various rubberstamps, yellow paint and handwritten
text.
On the back, handwritten recipient's address with poststamp
and mail date rubberstamp (11-2-1960).
Announcement sent to the
famous Parisian art dealer Iris Clert for the opening of his
show, November 12, 1960, Rubberstamp text: "Invitation personnelle
au vernissage qui aura lieu au laboratoire 32 rue Tondutti de
L'Escarêne à Nice"; 1960. BEN Expose et Manifeste.
12 NOV 1960".
Ben VAUTIER:
Ben Expose Partout

Artist poster.
Black letterpress on white paper. printed on one side.
42x30 cm.
1964.
Folded in four (fold traces). Very Good+.
Ben VAUTIER:
Quelques Idées

Artist book.
Unpaginated (18p.). Bound with two metallic clips. Offset lithograph.21.5x16.5
cm. Self-published, copyright 1965.
Ben VAUTIER:
Tout N° 13A

Artist book.
Unpaginated (18p.). Bound with two metallic clips. Frontcover
printed offset + "13A" handwritten in dark red felt
pen by Ben. 21.5x16.5 cm. n.d. Mounted inside the front cover, a small
envelope containing 11 printed cards, complete. Self-published.
BEN (VAUTIER):
Fourre-Tout #2

Edition.
A large brown paper regular mail envelope (32.5x25 cm), containing
many different things, (as an holdall does), mainly works on
paper sheets: list of contents, texts, drawings, rubber stamps...,
but also a piece of sugar, a piece of film, etc. On one side,
rubber stamped: "Fourre Tout #2", and on the other
one, recipient's address, post stamps, and Ben's address in Nice
at the time. Original contributions by Erebo, A. Tomkins, Miralda,
E. Cunegonde, Kosugi, Vialat, M. Alocco, L. Castro, D. Spoerri,
Ben, Chubac, Buren-Mosset-Parmentier-Toroni (BMPT), Gilli, Fluxus,
D. Biga, P.A. Gette, Sonia, Knizak, J. Cortes, Koering, D. Rot,
T. Schmitt, J. Giraud, E. Andersson (Andersen), G. Brecht, Tinguely,
Fahri, Bertholo, Gerstner, Arrrabal, M. Lemaître, Panderma,
U. Nespolo. Eidion of 250 numbered copies. 1967.
From the list of contents,
could be lacking: the letter by Gette, 1 match by Spoerri or
Knizak,1 music score by Ben for Koering,1 sunflower seed by Tinguely.
But many things are inclued in the envelope which are not listed
and are anonymous. The Gette's letter, for instance, could be
a piece of yellow paper with a rubber stamped text which is not
listed. And so on. More than an holdall, it is a mess.
BEN (VAUTIER):
Ben, io sono sicuro che un giorno rimpiangerai d'aver esposto
al Punto
Artist book.
(20)p./pl. Texts and photos. Softbound. 16.5x12 cm. Published
for the show at Galleria Il Punto, Torino, 1971.
BEN VAUTIER:
22 cm

Multiple. Object.
Scholar slate with text "<-22 cm-> Ben", silkprinted
in white ink. 18x25.8 cm. Edition of 80 copies, numbered and
signed in blue ink in the wooden frame, lower left.
From Chorus #7, 1971.
BEN (VAUTIER)
Les Paravents à la Galerie De la Salle. Vence
Artist postcards. Exhibition catalogue.
Catalogue-annoucement for the show "Les Paravents"
organized by Ben at Galerie De la Salle in Vence, France. Opening
Auust 6, 1971. 22 postcards, 9.5x14.4 cm, by Tomkins, Tobas,
Koepke, Boltanski, Ben, Steack, Soerensen, Guinochet, Dietman,
Sarkis, Takako, Charlier, Le Gac, Erebo, Oldenburg, Johnson,
Brecht, Filliou, Flexner, Spoerri, Bory, Fluxus.
BEN (VAUTIER):
Dieu

Multiple.
A ping pong ball with the word "Dieu" silkprinted in
black, mounted on a wooden panel, framed.
Panel and frame painted in black.
Paper label affixed below the ball with the printed title: "Dieu
est partout donc il est dans cette balle" and numeration
in the edition and signature in white paint.
On the back, another paper label reads the printed text:
"Cet objet dont la version originale fait partie du "Fond
National d'Art Contemporain" accompagne l'édition
originale du livre "TOUT BEN" édité par
les Editions du Chêne en novembre 1974.
Il en a été tiré 100 exemplaires signés
et numérotés et 10 exemplaires hors commerce".
Edition of 100, signed and numbered.
29x29.3x3.7 cm.
This multiple
was created to accompany the 100 copies of the deluxe edition
of the following artist monograph:

Tout Ben. 1975
Artist monograph/catalogue
raisonné. 1975.
215pp., profusely illustrated. Text in French. Black cloth-covered
hard covers. 23.7x24.5 cm.
Catalogue raisonné of the Ben's work from 1956 through
1974: Créations / Poésie et textes théorique
/ Actions et gestes / Théâtre, Cinéma, Musique.
Biographie - Ce que les autres pensent de moi - Expositions,
concerts - Bibliographie.
Editions du Chêne, Paris, 1975.
One of the 100, numbered.
Monograph and multiple were released and come together.
BEN (VAUTIER):
Art

Unique piece.
Acrylic on an old register book. Mounted on a wooden panel painted
yellow. 36.8x51x5.3cm.
Text of the certificate by Ben: "This work is a part of
an edition of the word "ART" on ANYTHING I choose.
Each piece is unique". 1975.
Fine.
Provenance: Private collection.
BEN (VAUTIER):
Textes théoriques, Tracts. "C'est Idiot"
Artist book.
Text in French. Soft cover. 23.1x16.7 cm. G. Politi Editore,
Milan, Italy, 1975. 1st Edition of 1000 copies. The printed title
on the front cover has been covered by Ben with a square white
paper label, hiding it, and bearing a new handwritten title:
"C'est idiot" (it's idiot), framed and handwritten
by Ben in black felt pen. SIGNED "Ben" lower on the
front cover.
BEN (VAUTIER):
Encore un crayon qui écrit mal Satané stylo à
bille
Art work. Unique piece.
A carboard card, 16.6x24.4 cm, with a ballpoint pen mounted on
it with scotch tape. Original signed handwritten text by Ben:
"Encore un crayon qui écrit mal Satané stylo
à bille". On the back, dedication "Joyeux Noël
1976", signed by Ben. Some foxing on the card.
BEN VAUTIER.
A P'ART n° 1: VADE RETRO PINTURA!

Artist periodical.
20p. Text in French by Ben, on various artists and interviews
with C. Boltanski, Olivier Mosset. B/w illustrations. Wrappers.
Stapled. 29.7x21 cm. Dir. Olivier Garcin. Nice, 1977.
BEN (VAUTIER):
Berlin Inventory. Berliner Inventar
Exhibition catalogue. Artist publication.
8 booklets, stapled, in a red plastic folder. 22x16.3 cm. "Préface,
A Letter from Berlin, Moi Ben, je signe, Significations, Théorie,
Autocritique et egoexercices, Vitrines et murs, Annie on my mind".
DAAD Galerie, Berlin, Germany, October 28-November 25, 1979.
Ben VAUTIER:
Abandonner l'art il y en a déjà trop. H. Flynt
(Not to
produce more Art There is too much already Henry FLYNT).
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Unique.
Oil paint and black felt pen on wooden panel.
Use by Ben Vautier of an Henry Flynt's statement:
On the front side, text after Henry Flynt handwritten in black
oil paint on yellow oil painted backgound:
"Abandonner l'art il y en a déjà trop"
("Not to produce more Art There is too much already").
On the back side, text by Ben Vautier, handwritten in black felt
pen on white background:
"Citation de H. Flynt - dont je suis jaloux Hélas
iréaliste (sic) J'en ai besoin de l'art Il y en pas trop.
A repasser car le marker s'efface comme les pyramides avec le
temps" (Quotation from H. Flynt which I am jealous of Alas
irrealistic I do need art there is not too much. To draw again
because the marker fades like pyramids in course of time).
38 x 51.5 cm.
c. 1984.
Provenance: Gift from Ben Vautier to a private collector.
Henry FLYNT:
"THE FIRST TASK
The first cultural task of radical intellectuals, especially
whites, today, is:
(1) not to produce more Art (there is too much already);
(2) not to concede in private that non-European culture might
have an "ethnic" validity".
Ben VAUTIER:
"Henry Flynt est une pierre importante de l'édifice
Fluxus, la pierre la plus extrémiste, ses théories
sont les plus radicales. On croirait à une blague, mais
quand il nous propose de traverser les murs, on finit par y croire."
BEN (VAUTIER):
Untitled

Unique piece.
Enamelled plate containing four used paintbrushes and dry paint.
Diam.: 20 cm. Signed and dated 1989.
BEN (VAUTIER):
La Jungle de l'Art

Edition. Game.
A copy of the deluxe edition of 50.
Painted black wooden box (every box of the deluxe edition copies
is unique), containing:
a folding game board and a dice
550 cards "Histoire de l'Art" (Art History); 54 cards
"C'est la Vie" (That's Life); 54 cards "Théorie"
(Theory); 54 blank cards
8 plastic animals
a cardboard box
4 plastic fences
a silkprint on black cloth numbered and signed, text "La
Jungle de l'Art" printed white.
a folded poster
a game rules sheet
Box: 29x36x7.8 cm.
Flammarion, Paris, 1990.
Realized in conjunction with the show held at the Centre de Création
Contemporaine, CCC, Tours, France, 1988.
BEN (VAUTIER)
La Jungle de l'Art

Edition. Game.
Same as above, but a copy from the normal edition.
1,100 unnumbered and unsigned.
Cardboard box.
27.7x 4.7x6.5 cm.
Ben (VAUTIER): L'Art est au Dos

Canvas mounted on a wooden stretcher frame with black acrylic paint on the reverse.
On a wooden easel.
43.5 x 24.5 x 13.5 cm.
Edition of 20, this copy #13/20.
Signed and numbered in black pencil in the lower left corner of the wooden stretcher.
Edition Catherine Issert,
Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France, 1994.
Rare.