In the street canyons of Zurich, a man, son of the upper bourgeoisie, starts a nocturnal rebellion. HARALD NAEGELI, later known as the “Zurich Sprayer”, uses the empty concrete walls as a canvas to protest against the rigid, anti-environmental and elitist culture of his home city. His graffiti artworks, often spontaneous and always provocative, brought him into conflict with the law on several occasions and led to a spectacular court case, which even attracted the support of greats such as Joseph Beuys and Willy Brandt. Despite suffering from cancer and ongoing legal battles, Naegeli refused to be deterred and continued to paint, driven by an indomitable urge for artistic and social change. Nathalie David's documentary HARALD NAEGELI - THE ZURICH SPRAYER delves deep into the life and turmoil of this extraordinary graffiti artist. The film not only traces Naegeli's artistic and rebellious path, but also sheds light on the eternal conflicts between public order and personal freedom. In 2020, Naegeli was honored with the Grand Art Prize of the City of Zurich for his life's work, a belated recognition of his profound impact on the art world and beyond. HARALD NAEGELI - THE ZURICH SPRAYER is a tribute to the man who never stopped challenging his city and whose legacy continues to fuel the discussion about the meaning of art and rebellion.
Biography, Documentary
1h 37min
0 FSK
DE
EN
DE
PT
A tribute to the uncomfortable artist and utopian Harald Naegeli, who was supported by Joseph Beuys and Willy Brandt.
In the street canyons of Zurich, a man, son of the upper bourgeoisie, starts a nocturnal rebellion. HARALD NAEGELI, later known as the “Zurich Sprayer”, uses the empty concrete walls as a canvas to protest against the rigid, anti-environmental and elitist culture of his home city. His graffiti artworks, often spontaneous and always provocative, brought him into conflict with the law on several occasions and led to a spectacular court case, which even attracted the support of greats such as Joseph Beuys and Willy Brandt. Despite suffering from cancer and ongoing legal battles, Naegeli refused to be deterred and continued to paint, driven by an indomitable urge for artistic and social change.
Nathalie David's documentary HARALD NAEGELI - THE ZURICH SPRAYER delves deep into the life and turmoil of this extraordinary graffiti artist. The film not only traces Naegeli's artistic and rebellious path, but also sheds light on the eternal conflicts between public order and personal freedom. In 2020, Naegeli was honored with the Grand Art Prize of the City of Zurich for his life's work, a belated recognition of his profound impact on the art world and beyond. HARALD NAEGELI - THE ZURICH SPRAYER is a tribute to the man who never stopped challenging his city and whose legacy continues to fuel the discussion about the meaning of art and rebellion.