H. R. Giger
Hans Ruedi (H. After studying interior architecture and industrial design at the School of Applied Arts in Zurich, he worked as a designer while continuing to develop his drawings and paintings. India ink characterises his early works; he later adopted the airbrush, a technique he used throughout his career to create smooth surfaces, organic forms and hybrid figures.
He extended his practice to sculpture, furniture and drawing for film.
In 1977, following the publication of his collection of images Necronomicon, the director Ridley Scott approached him to design the creatures and sets for the film Alien. Giger thus contributed to the creation of the film’s visual universe, and in 1980 received, together with the other members of the team, the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. He also worked on other film productions, notably Poltergeist II, Alien 3 and Species.
His biomechanical imagery combines bodily forms with mechanical elements; it extends into sculptures, furniture and immersive spaces. In 1998, Giger opened a museum in Saint-Germain Castle in Gruyères, devoted to his works and film projects. The museum allows visitors to trace the transitions from the printed image to the object, the set and the space traversed by the visitor.
