BENJAMIN VAUTIER (Naples, 1935). "I am restless", 2000. Acrylic on canvas.

About Auction

Live

19th & 20th Century Paintings & Decorative Ar...

By Setdart Auction House

Oct 27, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-10-27 10:00:00 2021-10-27 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : 19th & 20th Century Paintings & Decorative Arts https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/setdart-auction-house/19th-20th-century-paintings-decorative-arts-7767
Setdart Auction House sofia@setdart.com

View Full Catalog (74)

• Lot Description
  BENJAMIN VAUTIER (Naples, 1935). "I am restless", 2000. Acrylic on canvas. Presents label of the Miami Fair Gallery, LP Art País. Signed and dated in the lower right corner. Measurements: 46 x 55 cm. On a black background, stand out some letters that say "I am not restless", with a free calligraphy and of certain naive aesthetics, the artist presents us a work that in spite of its apparent simplicity, manages to capture the spectator, dialoguing directly with him. Ben Vautier usually uses this resource in his works, introducing clear and direct messages, which have a certain touch of sarcasm or humor. Benjamin Vautier has been, besides being a visual artist, a public agitator and art critic, interested in social vindication and multiculturalism. For him all art must mean a shock, produce an intense emotion or reaction, and be novel. Although he was born in Naples, his childhood would be spent between this city, Turkey, Egypt, Greece and Italy. In 1949 he moved to Nice, where he spent most of his career. His contact in Nice with artists such as Fontan, Malaval, Klein and Arman would be fundamental in shaping his style. During this period he opened a stationery shop, and later a record store known as "La boutique". It is in this place where many young people meet, forming a bohemian group in which they share opinions, poems and works of art, in fact, it is Yves Klein, who encourages Vautier to exhibit his poems. As a result of this intellectual movement, Vautier created the magazine Ben Dios, where he published his essay "in art everything is possible", where he defends the novelty and the shock in the spectator. Invited by Spoerri to the Misfits Fair in London, he met Georges Maciunas who encouraged him to join the Fluxus group, which he joined. It was then that his work became imbued with conceptualism and minimalism, essential in his vision of art, which for him is not a purpose, but a vehicle, a form of communication. Today Vautier's works can be found in numerous collections of great artistic relevance, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, the George Pompidou Center in Paris and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, the Reina Sofia Museum and Art Center and the MACBA.
• Shipping Info

  • In-house shipping available. Please inquire at admin@setdart.com.

• Buyer's Premium
  • 22.00 %