"Great Swiss artist" turns 100
President Hans-Rudolf Merz has paid tribute to the work output and ethics of Swiss artist Hans Erni on the occasion of his 100th birthday.
The painter, sculptor and abstract artist has not stopped working for the past 80 years, driven by a great passion for his work, Merz noted.
"His work falls among that which transcends all limits, stretching beyond centuries towards eternity," he said in a statement on Saturday.
He added that he was proud to be able to pay homage to a "great Swiss artist" who stood out for his continued commitment to peace and environmental protection.
A ceremony was held in his honour in his hometown of Lucerne on Saturday and two postage stamps celebrating the artists have gone on sale.
[You can see some photos of Erni's work at www.swissinfo.ch. There is also an Erni work on the "Coutance" street side of the Manor store. The work celebrates Swiss author Jean-Jacques Rousseau.]
