BEN A NEW YORK 2011-01-23 BONJOUR hello my name is Ben Vautier I usually send out once or twice a month from Nice (France ) a news letters in French it helps me feel better Tomorrow I leave Nice for New York What am I going to N.Y to do ? show off ? showing off that is what mankind is all about Every thing is showing off even not showing off is showing off trying to be one self is showing off stupid ; we are always and cannot help being our selves - bad news I woke up this morning with a blank page in my head having to go to New York stopped my «flow of free thinking « - New York contains power And power frightens me Jenny Holtzer wrote once Abuse of power comes as no surprise - New York I ordered plastic suspenders so as not to loose my pants at the airport they did not come - New York What I am supposed to do Talk at the Moma about Fluxus and « instructions « I think, it will be open to public. A space for 120 I might give a short Fluxus concert Just like I like them 20 short pieces constructed in a Maciunas style but I must for that feel at ease loosing my memory I forget some times Fluxus Maybe because fluxus is everywhere but since fluxus turned « life into art » and vice versa I tell myself Ben « take life as it comes Filliou said "on verra bien" but I can't - I worry -ego problem - New York I will be travelling with Benoit , my grandson I live in the south of France Nice a big house on the hills - New York some times I get news from the USA Allison is active performing Larry Miller reconstructed a carrot-shaped heap of fresh carrots on the floor Ben Patterson show went fine in Houston I hope I meet Goeff such a nice smile - New York should I take Viagra with me or am I getting too old for that - New York every body knows every body and nobody knows any body - New York what about » this Instructions »art Annie said It's about a branch at the Moma on education concerning Instruction Art All art at one time could be brought down to "instructions" taking the decision, to paint a flower blue or red is following an instruction to oneself but I suppose that is not the instructions we are talking about what we they are talking about concern - scores - partitions - the simplest instructions I know off are those of George Brecht Question how did art finish up in "instructions " Of course the great mind masters behind instruction art remain Jon Cage and Duchamp Question what comes next after instruction art Attitude art? no art ? give up art ? intention art ? who care about art ? why art ? or back to folk art I would say No big change Ego is always there -New York Jon also said I would have a talk with curators Ok I have always the same three « statements « concerning art in my bag the first is » newness « an artist must bring some thing new and unexpected why ? to show off (feed his ego ) second statement (ego) « ego » itself -open it- study it- brake it -- and even if ego is made of anti ego or non ego its always ego recognise it my third statement , is « peoples languages » their survival has to do with ego (survival ) newness (change ) and tradition And (language( every language containing different vision of the world by the way I am preparing a « symposium « in Toulouse on cultures peoples and languages minority problems in the world why am I telling you all this ? To be transparent -New York it looks as if Silverman's collection is opening a new window in the Moma Some one said, "One step further then art -works " With fluxus "intention" becoming art and "intention" turns into "instructions " - New York on the 19th of January there is a memorial for Jil Jhonston Jill Johnston came to south of France in 1969 And wrote about her journey in the village voice I remember her staying at Annie mothers house being in love crying and eating mayonnaise I like her quotes The whole universe interests me--George Brecht
 I don't believe in art, I believe in artists
--Marcel Duchamp
 Not one sound fears the silence that extinguishes it
--John Cage -New York I suppose Jon Hendricks is a bit anxious I hope I don't disappoint him making a fool of myself opening doors already open Buy your ticket for: http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/events/11596 - New York No doubt Fluxus is still alive and kicking Alison with her bells Ben Patterson with his micro Fluxus historical concert Eric with his impossible demands Yoko with her fantastic smile Philip corner with his hammer to saw To transform piano into sound etc -New York --PARIS In Paris everybody is queuing up for MONET money money In New York for abstract expressionism power power power -New York I have to stop now Just to reassure you this is an unique mail sent once If you want more news about fluxus or ben go to my go to the site and then subscribe ree to my newsletter http://www.ben-vautier.com/divers/newsletters.php3 I hope it is not too cold in New York See you tomorrow Ben