Jean Albert (Schang) Hutter was born in 1934 in the northwestern Swiss canton of Solothurn. After training as a stonemason and in applied arts in Bern, he lived in the European cities of Munich, Warsaw, Hamburg, Berlin, and Genoa.
Hutter with some of his work in 2002.
Keystone / Christof Schuerpf
Hutter’s experience in Munich, above all, shaped the style of the sculptures that made him famous.
Though he had travelled to the Bavarian capital with the aim of sculpting female figures, he was struck by the post-war devastation:
“Violence and the effects of violence were directly tangible and visible,” he said later. “Such experiences, fortunately spared me as a Swiss, were a constant feature of my thoughts and emotions in Munich.”
From the project “Human traces – neither angel nor beast” (1998).
Keystone / Peter Lauth
Subsequent works included the “Dying Prisoner”, inspired by a photo of an emaciated concentration camp inmate who collapsed and died just as allied troops arrived to liberate.
In 1998 his “Shoah” sculpture, after it had been installed in front of parliament buildings in Bern, was removed and transported back to his workshop by a group of rightwingers in a night-time raid.
The Shoah work in front of Swiss parliament in 1998.
Keystone / Juerg Mueller
In 2008, for the 90th anniversary of the Swiss general strike, Hutter also created a sculpture that was installed in his hometown of Solothurn – the first monument in Switzerland to celebrate the workers’ movement of 1918.
Hutter said what he aimed to achieve through his works was to show “what humans have to endure as a result of other humans”.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
Precious archaeological vases and coins returned to Italian museum
This content was published on
The Italian authorities have recovered over 2,500 precious ancient coins, vases and small sculptures that had been illegally dug up and sold in Switzerland, Eurojust announced on Monday.
PrimeEnergy Cleantech declared bankrupt by Swiss authorities
This content was published on
PrimeEnergy Cleantech has been officially declared bankrupt, the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SOGC) reported on Monday.
This content was published on
The consumption of antibiotics has risen in Switzerland since the Covid-19 pandemic. However, compared to other European countries the Alpine country has one of the lowest levels of antibiotic usage.
Swiss financial watchdog foresees greater uncertainty due to geopolitics
This content was published on
The Swiss financial sector will face greater uncertainty due to the numerous geopolitical conflicts around the world, warns the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).
Swiss museums to mark centenary of death of painter Félix Vallotton
This content was published on
Swiss museums will celebrate the centenary of the death of the artist Félix Vallotton (1865-1925) next year. A major retrospective is planned in Lausanne, his birthplace, in autumn.
Russian mission installs more ‘spy’ antennas in Geneva, Swiss TV report claims
This content was published on
Russian spies are strengthening their presence in Geneva, according to a report by Swiss public television, RTS. Russian officials have placed new satellite dishes on their diplomatic buildings without authorisation.
This content was published on
Switzerland should join NATO, as in the future it cannot rely on its long-standing tradition of neutrality for its defence, John Bolton, Donald Trump's former national security adviser, declared in an interview on Sunday.
This content was published on
A demonstration was held in Geneva on Sunday calling for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine. Around 50 Russians took part in the gathering outside the UN building.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.