Swiss artist Markus Raetz dies

Renowned painter, illustrator and sculptor Markus Raetz, has died at the age of 78. The principal topic of his work was the nature of perception. 

His artistic objects and drawings often required interaction by the viewer and could only be understood when viewed in motion or from different angles as described in the bibliographical dictionary on visual art in Switzerland. 

Raetz’s oeuvre contains over 30,000 two-dimensional paintings and prints before he began working with sculpture in the 1970s. 

Raetz, who trained as a teacher, began his career as a painter and illustrator in the early 1960s near Bern and was inspired by Harald Szeemann who is considered a leading figure of 20th century art curating. 

“I’m doing things everybody can understand. It is not complicated work. I can see the in the reaction of children,“ Raetz is quoted on artnet as saying.  

Described as both playful and complex, his artworks were on display at numerous international exhibitions around the world, including in New York, Sao Paulo, Paris and Amsterdam. 

He was recognised for his work in the 2006 edition of the Swiss Grand Award for Art/the Prix Meret Oppenheim.