H. R. Giger
Swiss artist who created the biomechanical style and the Alien.
Hans Ruedi Giger (5 February 1940 – 12 May 2014) was a Swiss artist best known for his airbrushed images that blended human physiques with machines, an art style known as 'biomechanical'. He was part of the special effects team that won an Academy Award for the visual design of Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi horror film Alien, and was responsible for creating the xenomorph alien itself. His work is on permanent display at the H. R. Giger Museum in Gruyères, Switzerland.
- born
- 5 February 1940, Chur, Graubünden, Switzerland
- died
- 12 May 2014, Zürich, Switzerland
- field
- Art, film design, interior design
- nationality
- Swiss
- known_for
- Biomechanical art style, design of the xenomorph in Alien
Lore & Background
Giger was born in 1940 in Chur, the capital of Graubünden. His father, a pharmacist, viewed art as a 'breadless profession' and encouraged him to enter pharmacy. In 1962 he moved to Zürich, where he studied architecture and industrial design at the School of Applied Arts until 1970. His first success came when H. H. Kunz printed and distributed Giger's first posters beginning in 1969.
Giger's design for the Alien was inspired by his painting Necronom IV and earned him an Oscar in 1980 as part of the special effects team. His books of paintings, particularly Necronomicon and Necronomicon II (1985), and the frequent appearance of his art in Omni magazine contributed to his rise to international prominence. He was admitted to the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2013. He also created artwork for many music albums, including Danzig III: How The Gods Kill, Brain Salad Surgery, and Frankenchrist.
Giger had a relationship with Swiss actress Li Tobler until her suicide in 1975; her image appears in many of his paintings. He married Mia Bonzanigo in 1979, divorcing a year and a half later. He later lived with his second wife, Carmen Maria Scheifele Giger, who directs the H. R. Giger Museum. Giger died on 12 May 2014 in a Zürich hospital after suffering injuries from a fall.
Reader's Guide
Giger's significance lies in his creation of the biomechanical style, a distinctive surrealist innovation representing human bodies and machines in cold, interconnected relationships. His work on Alien defined the visual identity of the xenomorph and earned an Academy Award, influencing science fiction and horror for decades. His art has been adapted to album covers, furniture, music videos, and video games, and has greatly influenced tattooists and fetishists worldwide. Giger's permanent museum in Gruyères, Switzerland, houses his work, and his designs for Giger Bars in Switzerland reflect his original concepts. His legacy extends into popular culture, with references in science fiction and cyberpunk, and his influence on filmmakers, musicians, and artists remains enduring.
Did You Know?
- Giger's design for the Alien was inspired by his painting Necronom IV.
- He was admitted to the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2013.
- Giger acquired Saint-Germain Castle in Gruyères in 1998, which now houses the H.R. Giger Museum.
- His album cover for Dead Kennedys' Frankenchrist led to an obscenity trial.
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