Work
Martin Spühler's œuvre moves between three thematic fields: puppet theatre, stone sculptures and sound objects. Three materials, three languages — one body of work.
From 1966 onwards ten of his own productions — play, figures and stage sets all from one hand, always spoken live. Tours throughout Switzerland, socially engaged children's plays and successful productions such as „D'Baumlüüt“ and „Der Flussläufer / Adrift“ (with John Wolf Brennan).
In 1974 the family moved to Ticino for several months. Within a year, enough works had emerged for an exhibition. For financial reasons it remained the only period of his life dedicated to working in stone — short, dense and formative.
From 1976 onwards the main body of work: metal resonators, forged, welded and tuned. Across nearly five decades — installations, sounding stage sets and concerts, solo and with composers and musicians from improvised and new music.
Documentary
A journey through the land of vibrations
Film by Arthur Spirk and Martin Spühler · 60′ (2024)
He devoted himself entirely to sound: the metal sculptor Martin Spühler. The result is visually striking, in places monumental metal sculptures. Struck, rubbed or bowed, they resonate in a wide range of sounds from bell-bright to thunderously deep. They offer much for the eye, but for Martin Spühler the decisive thing was the panorama for the ears. The cosmos itself comes towards you — he set himself no lesser goal. For two years the work on his film gave Martin Spühler strength and momentum. He passed away in August 2023, shortly before his 80th birthday. To let an entire cosmos of sounds rise from metal objects — this vision of Martin Spühler shall live on.
Watch on YouTubeA selection of sound objects and sculptures from the studio in Ricketwil.