Shabby, drab and “incredibly parochial”, as the photographer Willy Spiller said at a Meeting itself, was the Zurich of the ’60s and’ 70s. At that time, as the city was caught between the sexual Revolution and conservatism, between sadness, exoticism, and the upheaval that began Spiller noted after his graduation in photography in 1968, life in the city for Newspapers like the “New press” or the “Züri Leu”. “As a photo reporter, I had only one task: to package The events as clearly as possible, and the whole story in a visually-appealing image,” says the 71-Year-old.
it needed only to Mark Twain and its local programs, in order to inspire the Zurich for the little stories. But from then on, says Spiller, got him interested in everything: the Chnelen and Puffs, the Zoo and the Opera house, the artists and clients in the hairdressing salons. Spiller has documented so intense like no other, the youth unrest – “always with a tie, to me, the police did not attack,” he says with a grin.
A part of the Zurich-based photos, which can now be seen in the picture hall, and a corresponding image band, had Spiller published already in 1977, in a book. But a nostalgic Spiller is not, in spite of the many stories he told.
Social housing, Triemli, Zurich, 1974. Image: Willy Spiller
“When I saw scenes like this, thought I was in a movie the Italian Neorealisten such as Roberto Rossellini, whose Aesthetics impressed me greatly. Thank You, Random!, I thought to myself then. I had to be incomprehensible to me as the “Züri Leu”-reporters are often accused of, that I would only show the beautiful side of Zurich – from today’s point of view, and at the sight of such pictures.”
David Weiss and Urs Lüthi playing piggyback in front of her Studio, stuessi yard instead of 10, Zurich, 1970. Image: Willy Spiller
“This photograph was taken in the train of a joint project with David Weiss – later part of the Duo Fischli/Weiss, with whom I studied at the Kunsti and later a Studio with Urs Lüthi. In a very bad offset printing, we published eight of the photographs from David and Urs under the title “Sketches”. The case, which at the time had a circulation of 100 pieces, enjoys today a cult status.”
E. W., editor of contact magazine, with staff, Zurich, 1973. Image: Willy Spiller
“In the’ 70s there was a lot of sexy stuff and the night clubs, a sleeve loose fashion shows, photo salons, such as the “click and Fuck”. This open-heartedness and freedom of movement was at the time. These women are here employed to mark the launch of a Pornohefts, not constricted at the end of the Evening for a long time as in this picture.”
the arrival of Tamil refugees, Kloten airport, 1974. Image: Willy Spiller
“It is the beginning of the Tamil was of a refugee movement, when I was sent to the airport to document this. I would have been able to show people with all their belongings in the arrival hall or your life in the city. But for me, this was the picture that says it all: how the New to meet the Locals. And it tells a story of skepticism about the Stranger; even if the women were perhaps not so suspicious as it seems here.”
the Restaurant “den of thieves”, (Ticino basement), neufranken alley 18, Zürich, 1969. Image: Willy Spiller
“This place is not called in vain the robber’s cave: no night without a fight! To photograph here, was really daring – even if the mood on this image looks peaceful. I’ve been drinking some nights so much, and the bartender liked me and I took courage to photograph. It is one of my favorite until today, because it shows how the Young and the Old met and the society is not homogeneous as it is today so often in Bars in Zurich.”
“Strangler of Lisbon” against the “Blue angels of Paris”, “Catch-as-catch-can”, freestyle wrestling at the Hallenstadion, Zurich, 1974
“I wanted to pursue this story over the edge constantly sport rings with the author and a friend of Paul Nizon. The former editor-in-chief of the “Züri Leu”, Jürg Ramspeck, was against this cooperation because Nizon was known for his lyrics to be late to deliver. But it worked; and when I pose the wrestler asked, picking up the one to the other spontaneously.”
With the new Moped on the Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich, 1972. Image: Willy Spiller
“My Leica and I’ve been awake day and night light; a photo-reporter never sleeps and has his eyes open, always. So here, too, as I met a group of well-Known. The image never appeared, but with time it developed its own effect.”
hall
Stauffacherquai 56
opening: Thu 28.3. 18 PM
To 11.5.
Wed–Fri 12-18.30 h, Sat 11-16 h
in addition to Willy Spillers images also photographs by Fred Mayer (“Zurich PANOPTICON are issued”).
www.bildhalle.ch
(Züritipp)
Created: 27.03.2019, 13:45 PM
