H.R. Giger
H.R. GIGER was born in the small city of Chur, Switzerland in February, 1940. Giger grew up in a rather normal, middle class family environment. His father was the local pharmacist. When he was quite young his father received a human skull as a professional promotion from a pharmaceutical firm, and the young Hansruedi was taken spellbound.
He fast developed a fascination with all things dark and strange, and later found inspiration from postcards and magazine photos featuring the works of Salvador Dali and Jean Cocteau. Giger’s mother Melli was a great encouragement to him, though she did not always understand the strange fascinations of her young son. As a pre-teen, Giger would invite neighborhood friends over to watch his presentation of ‘Ghost Train’ rides, and other portrayals of the dark fantastic.
After high school (gymnasium) Giger went on to study architecture and industrial design at Zurich’s School of Applied Arts. He soon expanded his network of friends to include those in involved in various aspects of the arts, and began drawing creatively.
In 1966 Giger began work as an interior designer, and at the same time, completed some early paintings. In 1968 Giger began working exclusively as an artist, as well as filmmaker. Giger has his first posters published in 1969 and also has some of his first exhibitions outside of Zurich.
Giger begins using the airbrush in the next decade, and his works take on a unique otherworldly quality. He grows to be considered the leading airbrush artist in the world and proved that fine art could be produced via the device. Working in large formats, Giger’s paintings are meticulously rendered and possess a blend of erotic mystery and alien elegance.
In 1978 Giger began work on the film ALIEN, and ended up sculpting much of the creatures and sets. In 1980 the artist is awarded an Oscar for his stunning work on the classic film.
Giger began work on The H.R. Giger Museum in the middle 1990s and this continues today, as the medieval castle in Gruyere, Switzerland is being continually expanded. The museum houses Giger’s personal collection of art from around the world, as well as a substantial collection of his own paintings and sculptural work.
Biography orignally printed in http://giger.com
I have admired Giger’s for several years. On my web site is a collection of samples of my art, some of which is reminiscent of Giger’s work.
i love this guy
I can appreciate the work, but Giger is one screwed-up guy…
Giger is an amazing artist! The details, shadows and overall sick and twisted perfection is why he is one of my many favorite artists. Those who think that Giger’s art is dirty and sick are correct, but only to an extent. The creativity and intensity of the art shows the deep dark workings of an artistic mind and gives the audience something they rarely see and provides a shock value that wakes up the audience and forces them to remember forever. Giger has created a new dark flavor of art that should be taste tested by an open minded society.
Thank you Giger for being you!
Disturbing and uncomfortable, yet inspiring in its vile originality. Very interesting, especially the part about the human skull. Nice web-log; thanks.
My pleasure Syhon
Giger is one of the most facinating people to study, both from a Psychological and and Artistic point of view. Whilst he is often disturbing and confrontational in his work, it is incredibly popular and used everyday in many comercial industries. It just goes to show how far an idea can spread.
Agreed, I mean just look at his Alien designs and how they laid down the foundation for horror-sci-fi.
I love Giger’s work… I don’t know if saying he’s a “screw up guy” is really all that correct… If I like his work, and other artist’s work (such as Chet Zar) that’s “weird” and “dark” does that make me screwed up? I don’t think so… I’m fairly grounded in reality, but I don’t mind letting my mind wander into darker areas, even in my own work. In a way, art like this let’s us escape reality, but also in some regards let’s us understand our own reality better, as whether some admit it or not, is very strange. To me, it’s all about being open minded. I don’t understand people that are repulsed, or scared of this kind of work, and/or throw people who are involved(either create, or admire it) with it into a “weirdo/psycho” category; to me I think it’s part of being human.
Couldn’t agree with you more.