The Jules Spinatsch work exhibited at Ziegelhütte in Schwamendingen dates back to the early 1990s, when Spinatsch was studying sociology in Zurich while also working as an assistant to various photographers. In parallel, he began to publish photographs of his own in newspapers like the left-wing weekly newspaper WOZ and Beobachter. He regularly went to the Heerenschürli community centre in Schwamendingen to use its photographic laboratory. Back then, to a much greater extent than today, the neighbourhood had image problems to contend with. His sociological interest and artistically trained eye prompted Jules Spinatsch to devote himself to a relatively long-term photographic study of Schwamendingen, which took around one year. In a way, this was a continuation of his (since abandoned) sociology studies: although the approach remained the same in terms of content, the medium and tools were different. His work in Schwamendingen would pave the way for Spinatsch’s future career as a photographer: when applying to study at the International Center of Photography in New York, he submitted this body of works, along with others, and was accepted.
Supported by Wirtschaft Ziegelhütte
