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, he cried out “I accuse! I accuse you of eliminating, destroying, making invisible, unusable and qualifying as criminal, works of art – no matter who they are done by – instead of protecting and conserving them as culture would want.”
In conclusion, the judge ordered that Naegeli and the local authorities get together and settle out of court. Should the local authorities agree to drop charges, no judgement will be made.
This is not the first time Naegeli has had a brush with the law. As an early proponent of street art, he acquired the “sprayer of Zurich” moniker in the late 1970s when he began anonymously painting wire-frame figures on buildings in the city.
Some 1,000 works later, in 1979, he was arrested on charges of defacing public property, which he countered by describing himself as a political activist. He initially fled to Germany, where he was sentenced to prison in absentia, but in 1984 he returned and handed himself in to spend nine months in jail.
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Swiss street art thrives in the mainstream
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Does public space belong to everyone? This becomes hard to answer in a country with a tradition of direct democracy, where even art projects designed for public spaces can fall victim to a popular vote – or the threat of one. (SRF/swissinfo.ch)
Whenever art invades the public space, questions inevitably arise. Some cannot identify with it, others lament the “waste of money”. Who decides which art might be appropriate for the masses?
While public spaces should belong to everybody, inspiring content and the taste of the majority rarely coincide.
Public space can becomes a battleground where different conflicts are fought. On one side the needs of a community, on the other, the independence and freedom of art. Art thrives on being uncompromising and the element of surprise. It breaks the status quo and attracts contrasting viewpoints.
In Switzerland this tussle began with the Zurich graffiti artist Harald Naegeli. He used the city like a canvas. The more his drawings appeared on the walls, the more aggressive were the reactions. It’s a conflict that continues today.
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.