Mythologies for the Future. The powerful world of HR Giger

“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. Yet 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.

Following the SUMO-sized monograph which was begun shortly before the artist's unexpected death, this affordable anniversary edition pays homage to Giger’s unique vision. The book shows the complete story of Giger’s life and art, his sculptures, film design, and iconic album covers as well as the heritage he 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 the artist’s oeuvre while an extensive biography draws on contemporary quotes and Giger’s own statements.

The artist

HR Giger (1940–2014) was a Swiss painter, sculptor, and designer, who combined surrealist influences and dark fantasies to create his very own biomechanical universe. He first received acclaim in the 1960s with his airbrushed fantasies of post-apocalyptic creatures and landscapes and rose to fame through high profile movie work, most notably the creation of the monster in Alien, which won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. HR Giger was named in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2013.

The editor

Hans Werner Holzwarth is a book designer and editor specializing in contemporary art and photography. His TASCHEN publications include the Collector’s Editions Jeff Koons, Christopher Wool, Albert Oehlen, Ai Weiwei, and the David Hockney SUMO A Bigger Book, as well as monographs like the XXL-sized Jean-Michel Basquiat.

The author

Andreas J. Hirsch, born in 1961 in Vienna, is an author, curator and artistic photographer. His writings include books on Pablo Picasso, Tina Modotti, Friedensreich Hundertwasser and HR Giger. From 2009 to 2014, he was curator at the KunstHausWien and organized exhibitions on Henri Cartier-Bresson, Linda McCartney and HR Giger, among others.

About the series:

TASCHEN is 40! Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible publishing, helping bookworms around the world curate their own library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia at an unbeatable price. Today we celebrate 40 years of incredible books by staying true to our company credo. The 40 series presents new editions of some of the stars of our program—now more compact, friendly in price, and still realized with the same commitment to impeccable production.

Master of Horror. Discover HR Giger’s arsenal of fear

Discover HR Giger’s inimitable universe in this definition introduction to the master that gave expression to the collective horrors and fantasies of our time. From his childhood fears to Alien, Giger personally guides us through his multifaceted career with intimate autobiographical essays, detailed reproductions and designs, and a foreword by Timothy Leary.

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, harking back as far as Giger’s earliest childhood fears 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.

From surrealist dream landscapes created with a spray gun and stencils to album cover designs, from guillotine-like sculptures to self-designed bars, Giger personally guides us through his multi-faceted universe in this definitive introduction to a master of horror. Detailed reproductions and designs and a foreword by Timothy Leary complement Giger’s intimate autobiographical texts.

The artist:

HR Giger (1940–2014) was a Swiss painter, sculptor, and designer, who combined surrealist influences and dark fantasies to create his very own biomechanical universe. He first received acclaim in the 1960s with his airbrushed fantasies of post-apocalyptic creatures and landscapes and rose to fame through high profile movie work, most notably the creation of the monster in Alien, which won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. HR Giger was named in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2013.

About the series:

Born back in 1985, the Basic Art Series has evolved into the best-selling art book collection ever published. 

Each book in TASCHEN’s Basic Art series features:
- a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance
- a concise biography
- approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions

Книга о Хансе Руди Гигере (род. 1940), написанная самим мастером. Одни называют его «художник-фантаст № 1», других восхищает научная точность его видений, Фанаты ужаса, специалисты по психологии и оккультисты в равной степени принимают его за своего. Тем не менее, самое известное его творение - «Чужой»- в значительной степени автопортрет. Религиозные фанатики сжигают его картины, обвиняя художника в сатанизме, но сам он сторонится всякой организованной религии, заявляя, что «в этих вещах» у него достаточно личного опыта. Убедительность его страшных видений роднит его творчество с искусством Босха и Брейгеля. Однако мир биологических машин, который открывается в них, - это мир без Бога, без искупления, без надежды, мир, в котором невозможны никакие религиозные верования.

Механичность, насильственно-принудительный характер биологических процессов - центральная тема творчества Гигера. Сама механика биологизируется: происходит парадоксальное сращение механизма с организмом. Гигеровские «биомеханоиды» представляют собой мирное, гармоничное слияние технологии, механики и биологической жизни.

Поскольку в работах Гигера находит выражение отрицательный, болезненный опыт сознания, многие считают его художником зла. Такое истолкование имеет под собой определенную почву: мир Гигера строится на переплетении не только биологических и механических, но и оккультных мотивов. Он живописует победу материи над духом, Сатаны над Христом. Из его биографии следует, что со студенческих лет он предпочитал селиться в «проклятых» домах, коллекционировал ритуальные предметы. Многие его работы носят богохульственный характер, лейтмотивы его творчества - агрессия, страдание, разложение, убийство и самоубийство, механический жестокий секс - воплощаются в чудовищных демонических образах.

Однако знание зла вовсе не обязательно означает подчинение его законам. Понимание природы зла может стать путем к освобождению из его пут.

В книге имеется предисловие друга мастера Тимоти Лири, подробного рассказа Гигера о себе и своем творчестве, проиллюстрированного документальными фотографиями и произведениями художника. В конце издания - иллюстрированная биография жизни и творчества художника, перечень его персональных выставок, перечни работ, библиография.

HR Giger first received acclaim in the 1960s with his airbrushed fantasy landscapes. However, he scored his breakthrough in applied art, and particularly in his high-profile movie work on Ridley Scott's Alien. In 1980, he received an Oscar for "Best Achievement for Visual Effects" for his designs of the film's title creature and its otherworldly environment.

His other celebrated film projects include Poltergeist II, Alien 3 and Species, for which he designed a deadly but beautiful half-extraterrestrial female creature and a fantastic nightmare train. Giger's album covers for Debbie Harry and Emerson, Lake and Palmer were voted as being among the top hundred in music history by music journalists, while furniture designed by Giger graces a bar in Chur, Switzerland.

This book was designed by the artist himself, and features detailed commentaries in which Giger describes his work from the early 1960s to the late 1990s; the authentic voice of the master.