Menschen im Mittelpunkt

Focus on people

Various newspapers, June 2013

Pictures by photographer Pit Bühler and sculptures by sculptor Jürg Allgeier are on display in the town hall until June 14. The newly founded children's choir also performed at the vernissage.

Art exhibitions in the town hall have a long tradition in Widen - but this fell asleep a few years ago. The cultural commission, which was founded a year ago, is taking up this tradition again and continuing it. At the vernissage of the exhibition with moving pictures by photographer Pit Bühler and sculptures by sculptor Jürg Allgeier last Saturday, the entrance hall was almost too small, so great was the interest. The newly founded children's choir under the direction of Ariane Leanza Heinz had a much applauded first performance.

A political exhibition

Both artists spontaneously agreed to take part in the exhibition, said commission member Franziska Cattin. «It's a first for Pit Bühler to exhibit in this setting.» She is proud that it was possible to engage both artists. «It's also great that the municipality has agreed to this political exhibition.» The paintings by Pit Bühler are particularly political. They show people from all over the world. Disadvantaged people who make a living by scavenging for food scraps in garbage tips, for example. They are also political because each picture is accompanied by a short commentary on the living conditions of the people depicted. Jürg Allgeier's sculptures also do not show the perfect human being. Some of his concrete bodies in particular are without heads or limbs. But they are highly noteworthy.

«The house is alive»

The community center as an art center is not an everyday occurrence, said the mayor

Vreni Meuwly at the vernissage. People of all generations and skin colors came and went in the community center. «The house is alive,» she said happily. Both Pit Bühler's paintings and Jürg Allgeier's sculptures always focus on people. «It's worth looking at them and listening to what they have to say.» Moving pictures meet moving sculptures. «It's worth looking twice, because they don't leave the viewer cold. The exhibition is open to the public until June 14 during counter opening hours.

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The cultural commission is organizing a touching exhibition in the town hall. It will open on Saturday, May 25, at 7 pm.

An exhibition of extraordinary photographs and sculptures is being prepared in the Widen community center. The Baar-based photographer Pit Bühler has traveled to 90 countries over the past 40 years, taking portraits of celebrities, but also creating impressive images of less privileged people. It helps that he likes people and makes them feel it. Nothing seems to stand between him and the people he portrays. Bühler says of himself: «For me, a photo is an examination of people and the world. A good picture is worth more to me than the money I might earn from it.» Pit Bühler works as a freelance photographer and is employed part-time by the canton of Zug. He originally graduated from Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts with a degree in economics, finance and management. His passion for photography began when he was twenty years old on a trip to the USA. Further trips, which he carefully documented photographically, followed. These photos brought Bühler to the attention of Professor Helffied Strauss, who invited him to spend a year at the Academy of Art in Leipzig. Since then, Pit Bühler has received many awards for his work and exhibitions and has made a name for himself internationally.