French artist Ben, renowned for his witty painted slogans, has passed away at the age of 88, reportedly taking his own life shortly after his wife of 60 years, Annie, died following a stroke.
Their children, Eva and Francois, disclosed that Ben, unable to bear life without his beloved wife, ended his life a few hours later at their home in Nice, France.
Ben, born in Naples in 1935, relocated to Nice at the age of 14, where he remained for the rest of his life. He was closely associated with the Fluxus movement of the 1960s, which aimed to challenge conventional notions of art through street-based, provocative irony.
His artistic philosophy, encapsulated in the statement “Everything is art,” transcended traditional artworks, focusing instead on unconventional “gestures.” These included standing in gallery windows and shouting until he lost his voice, staging plays that never materialized, or piano recitals where the pianist would abruptly leave the stage.
Ben was known for boldly signing anything he deemed his creation, from the bodies of passers-by on the Promenade des Anglais to the works of other artists. Despite criticism from some within the art world, who viewed him as an opportunist, Ben maintained that his playful approach carried a profound message.
While his humorous slogans, often painted in white on black backgrounds, gained widespread recognition and were replicated on various everyday items, Ben’s impact extended beyond mere words. French President Emmanuel Macron described him as leaving behind a legacy of freedom, poetry, and profound depth, while Culture Minister Rachida Dati hailed him as a “goldsmith of language.”
Ben’s departure marks the end of an era for the art world, leaving behind a legacy of unconventional creativity and thought-provoking humor.
