Recommendations of the Editorial team
Hans Rudolf Giger died in 2014 at the age of 74. Unfortunately, it was no longer the era in which his work was recognized, as he deserved it until his end of his life. He created sensational album covers, for Debbie Harry, Danzig or Emerson, Lake & Palmer. For vinyl covers. The details of the work of the Swiss surrealist can only be recognized in large format, not in the small small small of CD covers. Therefore, the upswing of the digital also meant the end of the perception of his person.
In the cinema, too, HR Giger was dependent on handling. On dolls and costumes. His best-known creations are the “Alien” (1979), the sex worm from “Possession” (which lived in Berlin-Kreuzberg!, 1981) and another worm (“Poltergeist II”, 1986). Giger was involved in the special effects team in “Species” from 1995. But digital, visual effects already influenced the appearance and movement of this female monster, which kills about mating. His “alien” from “Alien” was ultimately a “Man in a suit”, but tearing mul and dome skulls achieved their disgusting effect.
HR Giger: Suggestive slots in machines
HR Giger was the Hieronymus Bosch of modern times. He not only used brushes, airbrush and pen. Also glued and tinkered. He lived in fear of nuclear armageddon. The young Hans Rudolf was already frightened and fascinated by the atomic bomb, the unexpected power of which atomizes people and deformed the bodies of the survivors.
Biomechanoids (the term sounds far too harmless), i.e. mixed beings of the machine and humans, shaped many of his work. The pocket band “HR Giger”, now also available as a 175 euro edition, shows the nightmares of the Giger, who are effortlessly transferred to the viewer. Creatures that push pipes into their mouths. Suggestive slots in machines. You feel it immediately. Even the mirror neurons in the abdomen report.
But there are also pictures that you don’t understand. The pilot from “Alien”. Director Scott didn’t let it go. Almost 40 years later, made a film about the plane (and failed spectacularly with “Promotheus”).
Giger has no successor because nobody works like this anymore. Not for the music industry, not for Hollywood. He could be angry. When director James Cameron did not consult him for the Xenomorphic successor “Aliens” (and had the being changed in many costume points), his slow retreat from America began.
At the end of his life, HR Giger lived again in Switzerland. There he had his scary museum. And a mini train in his garden. On which he could still take a seat. Then he looked even bigger. A giant, in every respect.
Pockets
HR Giger
Hardcover in a box, 29 x 39.5 cm, 6.20 kg, 506 pages
175 euros