Artist Harald Naegeli receives 2020 Zurich city award
The 80-year-old “sprayer of Zurich”, has received this year’s city art prize for the gangly stick-figure graffiti that he has been leaving on walls and buildings for decades.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/dos
The “exceptional artistic personality” will receive this year’s CHF50,000 ($53,303) prize for his “pioneering” work from the 1970s to today, the Zurich authorities announced on Thursday.
Significantly, some of his older work – six figures which he sprayed in Zurich parking lots almost five decades ago – will also be elevated to “artistic” status.
Naegeli, though enjoying an international reputation (he also left his mark in Germany), has often been pursued by the law, and he was handed a nine-month prison sentence in 1981 for vandalising buildings.
Even now, for his most recent graffiti on a schoolhouse in Zurich, Naegeli has a fine hanging over him. Another of his coronavirus-period figures, a “dance of death” design he painted on wall of the city’s art gallery, was since removed and charges dropped.
The Zurich authorities said in their announcement on Thursday however that their attitude towards unauthorised graffiti remains the same as ever – that is, it is officially punishable.
As the Keystone-SDA news agency put it, “in short: if your name isn’t Naegeli, then you won’t be getting an art prize from the city, you’ll be getting a fine for vandalism”.
More
More
Let us spray: Swiss artist given permission to graffiti church
This content was published on
Controversial artist Harald Naegeli, better known as the ‘Sprayer of Zurich’, will get to work on Zurich’s historic Grossmünster.
New gel developed in Zurich renders alcohol harmless
This content was published on
A newly developed gel composed of whey proteins breaks down alcohol in the body and could reduce its harmful and intoxicating effects in humans.
Pro-Palestine protests extend to Basel and Fribourg universities
This content was published on
Demonstrators called for an academic boycott of all Israeli institutions and disassociation with Chaim Weizmann, the first Israeli president.
This content was published on
In many cases, China's use of AI undermines the national security of the US and its allies, according to a US government representative.
Swiss Hells Angels trial alleges rape and money laundering
This content was published on
An allegedly high-ranking member of the Hells Angels is accused of money laundering totalling millions and rape, among other serious crimes.
SWISS is airline ‘group flagship’ says Lufthansa boss
This content was published on
Despite challenges, Lufthansa and its most important subsidiary, Swiss International Airlines, promise increased satisfaction and continued growth.
Swiss rediscover communist zeal after 84-year hiatus
This content was published on
Over 300 participants founded the Revolutionary Communist Party (RKP) at its congress in Burgdorf in canton Bern at the weekend.
This content was published on
Nemo brought the Eurovision Song Contest to Switzerland with a victory on Saturday evening in Malmö, Sweden. It is Switzerland's third victory in the history of the music contest.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss graffiti artist fined by German court
This content was published on
Harald Naegeli, known as the “Sprayer of Zurich”, has been fined by a German court for damaging properties in Düsseldorf.
Judgement suspended in case of 77-year-old graffiti artist
This content was published on
Art or vandalism? A Zurich district court has ordered veteran Swiss street artist Harald Naegeli to come to an out of court settlement with local authorities.
This content was published on
The answer is obvious for local and cantonal authorities in Zurich. A district court accused 77-year-old Naegeli of causing almost CHF10,000 ($10,250) of damage to city property with 25 pieces of graffiti sprayed in 2012 and 2013. In his defence, Naegeli delivered what the Swiss News Agency described as a “theatrical” performance. Facing the judges,…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.