Swiss artist Hannes Schmid is most sought after for his extraordinary photo-essays. Born in 1946 to Swiss parents, he was trained as an electrician, but found his true calling in photography while travelling on a work trip in South Africa. Largely self-taught, yet a consummate master of the medium, his decades-spanning works are sans pareil unconventional and recognized in various genres of photography.
Photography is Hannes’s way of bearing witness to his curious eye and unwavering determination to seek out the truth. Some of his most recognized works include the iconic Marlboro Man, Rockstars, For Gods Only, and Human Currents which have been exhibited at various galleries and museums. In recent years, he has delved into a variety of art forms to create a provocative body of work, which includes transforming his Marlboro Man onto the canvas and a social sculpture, taking place in Cambodia.
Despite having earned various nominations and awards (including an Honorary Doctorate bestowed on Hannes by the University of Zurich), Hannes belongs to a category of artists that goes beyond the confines of traditional photography. The larger part of his archive now sits in his atelier, waiting to be discovered.
AWARDS
2018
Prix Courage 2018 "Lifetime Award"
Genex Human Focus Award
Honorary Doctorate by the University of Zurich
2016
Jonas Furrer Preis
2015
Dübi Award 2015, Fine Arts
2011
Delphic Art Movie Award. Special prize “Protection of Intangible Heritage” for the film For Gods Only
2008
Looking Back: The White Columns Annual, selected by Jay Sanders
2004
Patronage of UNESCO Switzerland for For Gods Only
1992
LIFE Magazine, Best Fashion Picture of the Year
1988
Elle. France, Best Fashion Photographer
COLLECTIONS
Private Basler Stiftung
Fachstelle Kultur des Kantons Zürich (Culture Agency of the Canton of Zurich)
Fotostiftung Schweiz (Swiss Foundation for Photography), Winterthur
Julius Baer Art Collection, Zurich
Museum Folkwang, Essen
Collection Rainer-Marc Frey, Zurich
Collection Per Gunnar Strømberg Rasmussen, Bergen, Norway
PROJECTS
2012-
Smiling Gecko, charitable project in Cambodia
2009
Divas+Heroes
2003-
Realizing the Cowboy series in oil on canvas
2001-06
The Bonneville Project: "Bonneville The Final Run". Formula 1 Cinema film and photography
1998- 2011
For Gods Only
Chinese ritual street opera in Singapore with blended photography and calligraphy (today under the patronage of UNESCO Switzerland/United Nations)
1998- 2008
Charity projects/campaigns for the Swiss Paraplegic Association & Pro Infirmis, Switzerland
1993-2002
Re-creation of the Marlboro Man for Leo Burnett/Phillip Morris (some of these images were
later used by Richard Prince in his Cowboy series)
1984-2001
Private Essays on Daytona’s bike week, the life of Belize Mennonites, the widows of
Potosi in Bolivia, Maha Kumbh Mela in India (The Flow of Life), Thaipusam in Singapore, etc.
1984-2002
Fashion photography for magazines and fashion designer labels;
Best Fashion Photographer in 1988. Live Magazine Best Picture of the Year in 1992
1977-1984
Behind-the-scenes of Rock’n’Roll Stars: Band Portraits, backstage, private and live performance images. Accompanied Bands on tour from A like ABBA to Z like Zappa.
1974-1977
Travelled through South East Asia, Sumatra, Borneo, China, India, Tibet etc. and to the Dani & Lani tribes in Irian Jaya, Indonesia
1970-1974
Travelled through Africa. Photographed landscapes and portraits of inhabitants like the El Molos on Lake Turkana. Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt etc.
WORK PUBLISHED IN
Vogue, Men's Vogue, GQ, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Depèche Mode, Marie Claire, Donna, Harper’s Bazaar, DU, Stern, Das Magazin (Tages Anzeiger Zurich), Condé Nast Traveller, Travel & Leisure, Max, Amica, Gala, Pop, Musik Express, et al
COMMISSIONS
Armani, Bally, Joop, Kenzo, Levis, Sisley, Swatch, et al