HR Giger. 40th Ed

At its core, Giger's art delves into the psyche and touches upon our deeply rooted primal instincts and fears. His art forms a category of its own. The proof lies in the intensity of his work and imagination, which I can only compare to the ability to provoke and disturb found in Hieronymus Bosch and Francis Bacon. The Swiss artist H.R. Giger (1940-2014) became famous primarily for his Oscar-winning design of the monster for Ridley Scott's science fiction horror film Alien (1979). In retrospect, this was merely the most prominent being from Giger's extensive arsenal of biomechanical creatures. These include fused hybrids of human and machine, sensual bodies encased in womb-like apparatuses, and painted demons inspired by fantastic literature and Giger's nightmares. These images expressed the collective fears of his era: fear of nuclear war, overpopulation, resource scarcity, and a future where the survival of our bodies depends on machines. Their visionary power plays with the demons of the past while simultaneously creating myths for the future. This more affordable edition is based on the comprehensive monograph that was begun shortly before the artist's unexpected death and pays tribute to Giger's unique vision. It tells the complete story of his life and art, showcasing his sculptures, film work, and cult-status album covers, as well as the legacy he left in his own artist museum in the Swiss Alps. In a profound essay, Giger expert Andreas J. Hirsch engages deeply with the themes of Giger's work and his world. The book also contains numerous documents from Giger's archive, quotes from contemporaries, critical reflections, and a detailed biography based on his records.