REGARDEZ VOUS is a 2018 work by Ben Vautier, executed in acrylic on canvas in a square format measuring 80 × 80 cm. It is a unique work, signed by the artist and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
Through this simple and direct phrase, Ben transforms language into a genuine visual experience. Regardez vous is not merely meant to be read: it immediately addresses the person standing in front of it. The viewer almost becomes the subject of the work, invited to confront their own gaze, their own image and the way they perceive themselves.
This direct relationship between text and viewer lies at the heart of Ben’s practice. His instantly recognisable handwritten style gives the phrase an intimate, spontaneous and universal quality. Behind the apparent simplicity of the message lies a broader reflection on identity, self-perception and the role of the gaze in our relationship with others.
The square format reinforces the graphic presence of the work and gives the composition a strong visual impact. The simplicity of the visual language allows the message to fully occupy the space, in the direct and immediately identifiable aesthetic that characterises Ben’s work.
REGARDEZ VOUS perfectly illustrates Ben’s ability to transform just a few words into a work that is at once conceptual, personal and deeply accessible.
Available at Galerie De Medicis, Paris.
