Dadi Wirz photographs relating to New Guinea, circa 1952-1955

Scope and Contents note

Photographs relating to a trip that Dadi Wirz made with his father to New Guinea, 1952-1955. The photographs depict artifacts, including sculptures, masks, and paintings, as well as people and architecture. Additionally, there are some photographs of activities, including canoeing, construction, and painting.

Biographical/Historical note

Dadi Wirz, son of Swiss anthropologist Paul Wirz, was born in Switzerland in 1931. He spent much of his youth traveling with his father to Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Wirz was educated at the state school for applied and fine arts in Basel, Switzerland (1946-1950), apprenticed in photography with Schwitter S.A. photo engravers in Basel (1947-1950), and trained in Paris at Atelier 17 (1950-1952), and the Ecole du Louvre (1951). After his studies in Paris, Wirz joined his father on a research trip to New Guinea, where he documented their findings through photography and film making. During this time, Wirz developed a particular interest in the art from the Sepik area, a subject on which he has since lectured at museums and universities in the United States and Europe. Wirz taught photography and print making at Atelier 17, Ohio State University, Pratt Graphic Art Center, Rhode Island School of Design, and elsewhere.

Location of Other Archival Materials

The Museo delle Culture di Lugano also holds Dadi Wirz's negatives.