“At its essence,
Giger’s art digs down into our psyches and touches our very deepest primal instincts and fears. His art stands in a category of its own. The proof of this lies in the intensity of his work and imagination, which I can only compare to
Hieronymus Bosch and Francis Bacon in their powers to provoke and disturb.” —Ridley Scott
Swiss artist
HR Giger (1940–2014) is most famous for his creation of the space monster in Ridley Scott’s 1979 horror sci-fi film
Alien, which earned him an
Oscar. In retrospect, this was just one of the most popular expressions of Giger’s
biomechanical arsenal of creatures, which consistently merged hybrids of human and machine into images of
haunting power and dark psychedelia. The visions drew on demons of the past, as well as evoking mythologies for the future. Above all, they gave expression to the
collective fears and fantasies of his age: fear of the atom, of pollution and wasted resources, and of a future in which our bodies depend on machines for survival. Begun shortly before the artist’s unexpected death, this SUMO-sized monograph pays homage to Giger’s unique vision. Featuring
seven fold-out spreads, it shows the complete story of Giger’s life and art, his sculptures, film works, and iconic album covers as well as the heritage he has left us in his own
artist’s museum and self-designed bar in the Swiss Alps. In an in-depth essay, Giger scholar
Andreas J. Hirsch plunges into the themes of Giger’s oeuvre and world while an
extensive artist biography draws on contemporary quotes and Giger’s own writings.
Limited Collector’s Edition of 1,000 numbered copies, each signed by Carmen Giger / HR Giger Estate. Also available as two Art Editions.
