The local copper who became a world-famous snapper
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Buochs, 1965. Urs Odermatt -
Hergiswil, 1961 Odermatt -
Buochs, 1981 Odermatt -
Hergiswil, 1982 © Urs Odermatt, Windisch -
Stans, 1974 (self-portrait) © Urs Odermatt, Windisch -
Stans, 1988 © Urs Odermatt, Windisch -
Nidwalden cantonal police: Oberdorf, 1974 © Urs Odermatt, Windisch -
Hergiswil, 1961 © Urs Odermatt, Windisch -
Buochs, 1968 Urs Odermatt -
Stans, 1973 (car-free Sunday) © Urs Odermatt, Windisch -
Beckenried, 1972 © Urs Odermatt, Windisch -
Lucerne, 1975 © Urs Odermatt, Windisch -
Ennetbürgen, 1972 Urs Odermatt -
Stans, 1958 Urs Odermatt, Windisch.
Ex-policeman Arnold Odermatt became an overnight sensation at the age of 76 when curator Harald Szeemann discovered his photographs and showed them at the Venice Biennale. The photos are now on show in Zurich.
- Deutsch Vom einfachen Dorfpolizisten zum gefeierten Fotografen
- Español De policía a fotógrafo de fama mundial
- Português De um simples policial do interior a festejado fotógrafo
- 中文 从乡村警察到著名摄影师
- Français C’est l’histoire d’un flic devenu star de la photographie
- عربي من شرطي مغمور إلى مصور مشهور
- Pусский Сначала полицейский, потом — фотограф
- 日本語 町の警察官から世界的に有名な写真家へ
- Italiano Da semplice poliziotto a fotografo di fama mondiale
Born in 1925 in Stans, Switzerland, Odermatt worked as a policeman in canton Nidwalden. Over the years he photographed vehicles involved in accidents, transforming these metal wrecks into works of art. At the start his pictures were intended for use as evidence in court.
At the start of the 1990s his film-maker son Urs stumbled across thousands of his father's photographs in the attic, and recognising their artistic merit, organised a first exhibition that gained public and artistic acclaim.
After his works went on show at the Biennale, other exhibitions went on tour around the world. They were also published in the book "Karambolage"External link. Odermatt's son, a theatre and film director, remained in charge of the 60,000-strong collectionExternal link.
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