Feb. 11, 2005Dieter Meier - Film and Music Producer, Artist and
Organic Rancher
The fascinating life of Dieter Meier who moves between his business in
Zurich, his studio in California and his ranch in Argentina.
Doris Ritzi
Peripatetic pioneer Dieter Meier is at home on three continents. The
son of a banker, he grew up in Zurich and studied law. He first drew
attention to himself as an outstanding golf player and at 16 became
member of the Swiss National Golf Team.
Artistically inclined, he directed short and feature films. His first
feature “81’000 Units” was invited to the 1969 Cannes Film Festival. A
music producer was interested in releasing Meier’s first, rather
eccentric record called “Cry for Fame”. Since money was then not
readily available to engage professionals to handle the sound system,
he created his first pieces of music in a small home studio and termed
his efforts amateurish.
Two years later, Meier met Boris Blank, a high priest in sound design,
and together they founded the group YELLO. It revolutionized the music
scene in Switzerland. The result was unbelievable success. Since 1979,
YELLO has continuously released avant-garde electronic music and is
considered the “Godfather of Techno” by music critics.
As a conceptual artist, Dieter Meier‘s work has been shown since 1971
in several museums (Kunsthaus Luzern, New York Cultural Center,
Documenta Kassel, Kunsthaus Zurich and others). For his essays in the
Neue Zuercher Zeitung Folio, he was awarded the Zurich Media Award, and
for his music and video work he got the Art Award of Zurich in 1997.
In 1973, on a business trip to Argentina with his father, Dieter Meier
was deeply moved by the beauty and tranquility of its countryside. The
vision to farm in Argentina became a reality in 1996, when he got
involved in organic farming and wine-producing. On his property, he
raises Hereford cattle organically, which is somewhat surprising as the
Argentines are strictly a conventional beef-eating population. Such
matters, however, do not impede our pioneer, who pursues a vision when
he is convinced of it. In the meantime, he has won Argentines over and
also grows corn, soy beans, lentils and wheat organically.
The meat from his cattle is exported fresh to Switzerland where it has
found wide acceptance. Meier intends to expand the market to other
countries.
When Winter descends on his home town Zurich and the city is shrouded
in fog and overhanging dark clouds, Meier escapes to Argentina. He
usually stays for three months. His wife and four children accompany
him for as long as their schedules allow it. Meier calls his Argentine
estancia and property ‘Ojo de Agua’ (waterhole). For him, it is an
oasis where he can find peace and recuperation from stress. His four
children call it their paradise, a wonderful place to go horseback
riding and to enjoy the unspoiled vast pastures, totally cut off from
traffic and noise.
For three months - termed by schedules - Meier lives in Zurich where he
has established a wine store “Ojo de Agua” in the center of town. And
depending on projects, he can be in Los Angeles from weeks up to six
months. In his home in Hollywood, he keeps a state-of-the-art
postproduction sound studio built by the local Swiss company Studio
Bauton.
The studio also serves digital mixing consoles of Euphonix, a Silicon
Valley company which Dieter Meier took over with a group of investors.
Major Oscar winning films such as the “Lord of the Ring” and TV shows
have been mixed on Euphonic consoles.A worldly entrepreneur, Dieter
Meier continues his industrious agenda. He does not let himself be
hurried. He develops an idea and works on it until he is satisfied with
its merit.
Febr. 11, 2005
