René Villiger

René Villiger ( born February 6, 1931 in Sins, † 22 October, 2010 Cham) was a Swiss graphic designer and painter. Villiger had created commissioned work, among others, many illustrations for non-artistic use of texts, including the title page of a textbook. He designed the Millennium lot, which introduced him to a circulation of 600,000 pieces in all of Switzerland.

Life

René Villiger was born as the third child of Theodor and Elisabeth Villiger. The siblings had two older brothers, Theo and Marcel. The first school classes completed (or in the original text: " suffers ") Villiger in Sins. 1946-1951 he trained at the School of Art Lucerne as a graphic designer. Among his teachers were located there, the Swiss art sizes Max von Moos and Werner Andermatt. She then studied abroad, including in Rome, Paris, Athens. From 1953 to Villiger was a self-employed graphic artist and painter in his own graphic and advertising agency. In 1956 he married his wife, Rita, 1957, their son beat, born 1960, daughter Irene. 1974 attracted Villiger in their own house in order Sins.

Although Villiger admired famous painters such as Pablo Picasso, but directly influenced his teachers had him at the School of Art: Max von Moos he worshiped until his death. This had taught his students to see the essence and feel the symbolic power. He had made them aware of the screen layout and practiced with them. These teachings Villiger had retained to the last. Formative in many ways is also the second teacher, Werner Andermatt been.

He illustrated many children's books, including " Alois ", which was awarded a prize at the World Book Fair in Leipzig. In addition to his work as an artist, René Villiger devoted to painting and the original graphic. His favorite subjects were people faces: furrowed faces, clown faces - laughing, crying, thinking. The accurate line fascinated as well as the imaginative, subtle coloring. The slope to the surreal was palpable.

From 1977 to 1981 he had trained as a graphic designer Daniel Küttel.

Villiger was on 22 August 2005 Honorary Citizen of Sins, at the community meeting on 23 November 2005, he was honored.

He died on 22 October 2010 at the age of 79 years in the AndreasKlinik ( Hirslanden ) in Cham ZG cancer.

Works (selection)

• Chervil
• Way of living
• Within
• Tête à Tête
• Rita's Garden
• Memory
• Girl with dove
• Girl with candle
• Shepherd
• Nativity play
• Light time
• Christmas
• Still Life with Book
• Illustrations about: Max BOLLIGERS: Alois - A catholic - theol. picture book
• Illustrations about: Max BOLLIGERS: Peter the tiny Star - Children's Book
• Illustrations about: Max BOLLIGERS: The Bread of Angels - Children's Book
• Illustrations to: New school Bible, Benziger Verlag, Cologne 1973, ISBN 3545430448
• Illustrations to: Lise Meyer- Camenzinds: Hospital Love