h.r.giger
1940 - 1962
Born on February 5, 1940, in Chur.
1946 attends nursery school, first the Catholic Marienheim and then quickly transferred to Auntie Grittli’s Reformational Kindergarten.
1947-53 Attends elementary school.
1953-57 Attends the cantonal school in Chur - two years of technical school.
1957-58 Institute Haute Rampe, Lausanne.
1958-59 Alpina College, Davos - preliminary certificate in Drawing.
1959-62 Practical Training with the architect Venatius Maisen, Chur, and the developer Hans Stetter Chur.
Military College in Winterthur - as a mortar firer with light mobilized troops.
1962-65 School of Applied Arts, Zurich, Department of Interior and Industrial Design.
1964
H.R. Giger lives in the Venedigstrasse in Enge, Zurich. During the day, he
attends the School of Applied Arts in Zurich (KGSZ), second year, Interior
Design and Industrial Design department. Produces his Atomkinger (Atomic
Children) ink drawings in his spare time. These are published in the Chur canto
school magazine. Also creates expressive Tachist pictures and works in distemper
(glue paste mixed with powdered pigment) on paper using large brush and
squeegee. First polyester works: a table and, primarily, masks.
1965
School of Applied Arts, third year. Publication of ink drawings in underground
magazines such as Clou and Agitation. Hi prints a number of works privately
under the title "Ein Fressen für den Psychiater" (A Feast for the
Psychiatrist). H.R. G. developed his interest in Sigmund Freud and keeps a diary
of his dreams. Final exam work "Station Passage" is a joint class
project.
1966
Having graduated from KGSZ, H.R.G. spends a while in his parents’ vacation
home in Poiana, Tessin. Produces works such as "Torso", "Head
I", "Head II" etc. Starts a full time job as a designer for
Andreas Christen, working on an office furniture program for the Knoll
International Company. He lives in the Rindermark with actor Paul Weibel, meets
Li Tober and falls madly in love with the beautiful actress.
In addition to his nine-to-five job, he spends long nights producing larger and larger ink drawings. The ink is brushed onto Transcop paper using a toothbrush and a wire sieve. The highlights are scratched away with a razor blade and the darker areas are built up with a rapidograph. First solo exhibition in the Galerie Benno, Zurich.
1967
H.R.G- and Li move into an empty attic flat in a neighboring condemned house.
Here he produces works such as "Birth Machine", "Under the
Earth" and "Astro-Eunuchs". H.R. G. meets the writer Sergius
Golowin and the film-maker F.M. Murer. He is featured in poet/provocateur Urban
Gwerder’s multi-media evening called "Poëtenz-Show", by the film
"High" a ten minute documentary on his paintings made by F.M. Murer.
In the summer, he again spends some months in Tessin. Produces sculptures:
"Beggar", "Suitcase Baby", and "Live Preserve",
etc. Back in Zurich in the fall, he paints small technical/organic landscapes in
oil on artist’s cardboard. Fred E. Knecht. proprietor of the Galerie Obere Zäune,
includes paintings and OBJECTS by H.R. Giger in the exhibition "Macht der
Masken" (Power of Masks").
1968
Basilo Schmid, nicknamed Pascha, an old friendfrom Chur, persuades H.R.G. to
give up his nine-to-five job with Andreas Christen in order to devote more time
to art. H.R.G. works in the Tessin, again, for a view weeks. F. M. Murer
commissions him to produce props for the planned 30-minutes film "Swissmade".
He now attempts the difficult task of creating a shell of polyester vinyl for a
dog and for the "monster". This is his first extraterrestrial being,
and it has a built-in image and sound recorder in its head and chest. Tina
Gwerder plays the superstar wearing this costume. Paul Weibes’s dog wears its
own tailor-made casing. The two houses in the Rindermarkt are demolished. Li is
engaged by the St. Gallen Stadttheater. With the help of poet J.M. Seiler, H.R.G.
finds a large room in a shared apartment, again in a condemned house n the Alte
Feldeggstraße in Zurich, where he continues to paint small landscapes in oil.
Gallery owner Bruno Bischofsberger visits H.R.G. in his studio and buys a series
of ink drawings and oil paintings. He advises H.R.G. to number and photograph
all his works. H.R.G. participates in the exhibition "Hommage à Che"
in the Galerie Stummer, Zurich.
1969
H.H. Kunz, friend, collector and co-owner of Switzerland’s first poster
publishing company, prints H.R.G.’s first posters and distributes them
world-wide. Jörg Stummer includes two silk-screen prints in his catalogue.
Bruno Bischofsberger publishes the large silk-screen portfolio "Biomechanoids
1969". H.R.G. makes his first and, to date, last, excursion into theater
designing costumes and make-up for the actors in Edward Bond’s "Early
Morning", a Peter Stein production at the Zurich Schauspielhaus.
A "Happening" in Jörg Stummers’s gallery, entitled "First Celebration of the Four", with Sergius Golowin and Friedrich Kuhn. First executions in Austria and Germany. H.R.G. seeks to overcome claustrophobic nightmares with his "Passages" oil paintings.
1970
Li returns to Zurich and lives with Eveline Bühler in Seefeld, not far from
H.R.G. In Eveline’s apartment, H.R.G. experiences his first horror
nightmare(see "Necronomicon). This leads to his so-called
"wet-cell" paintings. The continuous-flow water heater inspires him to
paint "The Four Elements". This is followed by "Bathtub",
"Kitchen with Sink" and "WC". These paintings give
impression of being covered with skin. H.R.G. is offered the chance of
purchasing a small row house with garden in Oerlikon, Zurich. In April, after
two months’ renovations, H.R.G. and Li move in The Galerie Bischofsberger
shows H.R.G.’s "Passagen"(Passages).
1971
F.M. Murer has been living in London for over a year. A reason for H.R.G. and Li
to visit England. Murer and H.R.G. decide to make the documentary film "Passagen"
on H.R.G.’s pictorial world. London’s mysterious docklands provide the first
locations.
1972
The Kassel Kunstverein holds an execution of H.R.G.’s work. H.R.G. works on
various series: "Passagen", "Skin Landscapes" and
psychedelic airbrush environments.
1973
Friedrich Kuhn - in H.R.G.’s estimation, one of Switzerland’s greatest
artists, dies. He was a frequent guest at Li and Eeline’s in 1969/70 and
usually spent the night sleeping at the kitchen table. H.R.G. and Kuhn were
bound by a deep friendship and mutual admiration. To the Zurich art World, Kuhn
was a master of the art of living. Using an airbrush to overpaint a series of
photos taken of Kuhn shortly before his death, showing the "Magus"
sitting on his favorite sofa, H.R.G. creates the painting "Hommage to
Friedrich". H.R.G. is commissioned to design a record cover for the English
rock group Emerson, Lake and Palmer. He creates the cover for the LP "Brain
Salad Surgery". During a two-week "retreat", H.R.G., in
collaboration with Claude Sandoz and Walter Wegmüller, creates "Tagtraum"
(Daydream), a series of four paintings.
1974
"Tagtraum" is exhibited at the Bündner Kunstmuseum. The atmosphere of
the voluntary retreat during which the work was created is captured in a
documentary film by J.J Wittmer.
1975
"Passagen-Tempel" (Passage Temple), a work that H.R.G. has created
expressly for the Galerie Sydow-Zirkwith, is subsequently exhibited in the foyer
of the Bündner Kunstmuseum. Jörg Stummer encourages Li to open her own gallery
in rooms adjoining his. She shows Manon, Pfeiffer and Klauke. At her last
exhibition, entitled "Schuwerk" (Shoe Works), where the guests are
invited to appear at the vernissage in way-out shoe creations, H.R.G. wears a
pair of "shoes" hollowed out of fresh loaves of bread and films the
guests for the documentary Giger’s Necronomicon. This film is produced in
collaboration with J.J. Wittmer. After this artistic stir, Li falls back into a
state of lethargy and ends her life with a bullet.
1976
On February 5, H.R.G.’s birthday, the new Galerie Sydow-Zirkwith opens in
Frankfurt with an execution specially designed for its rooms. The accompanying
catalog illustrates all the works and includes a lengthy text by Professor
Albert Glaser. The nine-year relationship with Li, which ended so painfully with
her death, leaves a terrible emptiness in H.R.G.’s life. "The Second
Celebration of the Four" is held among H.R.G.’s circle of friends at Ueli
Steinle’s Ugly Club in Richterswil; it is a Happening which simultaneously
represents the inauguration of the club and a memorial for Li.
Through contact with the American painter Bob Venosa which leads via Salvador Dali to Alexandro Jodorowsky, director of the films "El topo" and "Holy Mountain", H.R.G. is commissioned to collaborate of the film "Dune"
From a script by Moebius, H.R.G. designs the world of The "Harkonnen".
1977
First trip to America. Travels to New York accompanied by friend and gallery
owner Bijan Alaman and Sybille Ruppert, in H.R.G.’s eyes one of the best
representatives of fantastic erotic painting. Takes part in the execution
"Images of Horror and Fantasy" organized by Professor Gert Schiff in
the Bronx Museum, New York. Works from the years 1973-77 are shown in the Zurich
Kunsthaus, The "Dune", project fails to find financial backing in the
USA. H.R.G. is commissioned by Dan O’Bannon to create the monster for the
science fiction horror film Alien. The initial project is only a preliminary
presentation intended to help O’Bannon find a film company willing to risk $9
million of a final production. At the end of the year H.R.G. meets Mia Binzanigo,
later to become his wife.
1978
Giger’s "Necronomicon" had just recently been published in several
languages in the autumn of 1977. One of the first copies is sent to Dan
O’Bannon, who shows it to Ridley Scott and 20th Century Fox, the company in
whom the "Alien" project has found a Hollywood producer with ample
financial resources. The men from the film company are convinced that H.R.G. is
the right man for the project. At the beginning of February, director Ridley
Scott and two producers from 20th Century Fox inform H.R.G. of the conditions
and financial arrangements regarding the film. Four hours later, the ordeal is
over and the gentlemen travel back to the US. 20th Century Fox finances an Alien
portfolio of six silk-screen prints, which H.R.G. hands over, signed and
numbered, to the film publicists.
1979
To promote the movie, H.R.G. is sent with Mia, the troubleshooter, to Nice for
the European première, and from there to London and Paris. Weeks later, he
flies to New York, and, after a stopover in Dallas where he gives a total of 23
TV interviews in one day, he finally turns up, stressed and depressed, just in
time to attend the preview in Hollywood the company of Mia, Timothy Leary, and
his wife Barbara. The official release takes place two days later in
Graumann’s Egyptian Theater on Sunset Boulevard. The huge "space
jockey", especially created for the film, is bought in from England and
displayed in front of the cinema. It is later the victim of a pyromaniac attack.
H.R.G. and Mia give interviews for up to five hours a day. H.R.G. thereby
develops a real "Alien interrogation allergy". After this mega-trip,
H.R.G. and Mia marry.
1980
The designs and paintings for the film "Alien" are shown first in
Zurich, in the Galerie Baviera, and then in The Musèe Cantonal des Beaux-Arts
in Lausanne. H.R.G. is nominated for an Oscar. Short stopover in New York in
order to attend the opening of H.R.G.’s execution in the Hansen Galleries, New
York. Bob Guccione has published H.R.G.’s erotic pictures in a fourteen-page
color article in the American "Penthouse", and now sponsors the
extravagant execution opening. On April 14, in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion,
H.R.G. is awarded and Academy Award for Best Achievement in Visual Effects for
his contribution to the film "Alien"
1981
H.R.G.’s "N.Y. City" paintings are inspired by his five trips to New
York and an important template which his colleague Cornelius de Fries, with whom
he has been working on the furniture project since the mid 1980s, brought back
home with him from one of his excursions into the electronics industry. Since
spring 1979, in a specially-rented studio near H.R.G.’s home, de Fries has
been working on a technically highly complex chair design, part of the "Harkonnen"
furnishings for the film "Dune".
1982
In Zurich, a table (a variation of the chair) and a mirror frame have now been
added to the furniture program. These are exhibited and tested in the Nouvelle
restaurant. H.R.G. and Mia divorced after approximately one and a half years.
They remain good friends. In the fall, H.R.G. begins designing the preliminary
presentation for "The Tourist" for the Universal film company. In
collaboration with director Brian Gibson he produces seventy sketches and eleven
large paintings. Conny de Fries builds a modes of one of the sets of a scale of
1:100.
1983
The series of "Victory" paintings, partially sprayed with day-glo
paints, leads to the "Totems", naked, technical posts, each crowned by
a screaming head, rising up from a devastated landscape. Similarly, a lithograph
entitled Mexican Bomb Pair is starting point for a series of bomb paintings.
H.R.G. is invited to be guest of honor at the Madrid and Brussels festival of
fantastic films. The film project "The Tourist", has been put aside
following the huge success of "E. T.". H.R.G. is invited to Munich by
Horst Wendtland, head of Rialto Films, to discuss a film version of "Momo",
the children’s book by German author Michael Ende. A film group from Paris
presents another screenplay, based on specific paintings by H.R.G., under the
title "Passages". A further project, "The Mirror", another
horror film from 20th Century Fox, is also under discussion. H.R.G. begins a
series small-format sheets, 48 x 34cm, in which he uses his perspective
templates for the first time. Relief concrete slabs by H.R.G. are manufactured
in de Fries’ studio. A new picture frame is produced in keeping, in design,
with the furniture program.
1984
Retrospective exhibition in the Pfäffikom Culture Center; exhibition catalogue
published by Edition ABC. Film on the retrospective by Daniel Freitag and
Rolando Colla. Ron Moore, director of "Future Kill", persuades Giger
to design the posters for his film. The posters are published by Ed Neal, the
legendary "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" actor. Collaboration with Martin
Schwarz. Approximately fifteen paintings are produced. Friendship with Marlyse
greatly influences Giger’s image of women.
1985
Commissioned by MGM to create various horror scenes for the film
"Poltergeist II", under the direction of Brian Gibson. On December 1,
1984, H.R.G. and his manager fly to Los Angeles. H.R.G. is signed for the film.
Giger’s colleague, de Fries, hired by Richard Edlund (Boss Film), tries to
push through as many of Giger’s ideas as possible. De Fries is permitted to
produce only models, however. On May 23, 1985, filming starts on location, a
supermarket in the desert near Los Angeles. Giger and his manager meet Julian
Beck, the terminally-ill former head of the Living Theater. H.R.G. realizes
he’s worrying on the wrong film. Too late! When he signed his contract , no
one had been willing of able to give H.R.G any details of Aliens, going into
production at the same time. The early rushes of the children’s horror movie
"Poltergeist II", written by Michael Grais and Mark Viktor, look
professional. Richard Edlund’s special effects have not been filmed yet, bit
nevertheless, H.R.G. is worried about the quality of the final product, since
the storyline is weak and not to his taste. H.R.G is commissioned by Volvo to
produce a painting for Isaac Asimov’s short story "The Route to
Hyperspace". In Zurich, Edition C reprints "Necronomicon 1 and
2". The deluxe edition in an embossed cover contains an original
lithograph, printed by the legendary Max Winistorf, who died shortly afterwards.
"BD Comics Festival" in Sierre in Valais canton.
1986
Preparations for a large exhibition in the galleries of the Seibu Museum of Art
in Tokyo in February 1987. Both "Necronomicon 1 and "" and
Giger’s "Alien" translated into Japanese and published by Treville.
Catalan Communications N.Y.C. publishes the first English translation supplement
of "Necronomicon 2". Commissioned by the Swiss TV channel DRS to
design a TV prize, the "Prix Tell". Conny de Fries produces the model
following the designs of H.R.G.. In Japan, Sony launches the first laser discs
with cover motifs by H.R.G.. Alexander Bohr films a 45-minute portrait on
"The Fantastic Universe of H.R. Giger" for the German TV channel ZDF.
"Poltergeist II" is released worldwide. The film is a box office hit
in the United States, but in Europe it soon disappears from the screen. H.R.G.
is very unhappy with visual interpretation of his ideas.
1987
Exhibition in Japan organized by the Seibu concern, Tokyo. In addition to the
themes of Giger’s "Alien" and "Poltergeist II", the show
includes the original Alien monster, a Harkonnen Chair and other original
paintings. H.R.G. paints a "Japanese Excursion" series especially for
this exhibition a Japanese Giger Fan Club is founded (H.R. Giger Fan Club,
Biomechanoids 87, [Thoru Ito], D35-302, 1-2 Fuishiro-Dai, Suita City, Osaka, 565
Japan). The following are discussed: Japanese-language editions of existing
books (Alien, Necronomicon 1 and 2) and the printing of six different motifs and
as posters, plus a cover for a laser disc. plans are also discussed for the
building of a Giger Far in Tokyo. H.R.G. is commissioned to create the monster
Goho Dohji for a film by Japanese director Akio Jitsusoji.
1988
After the exhibition in Japan, the most important Giger books Giger’s - "Necronomicon
1 and 2" and Giger’s "Alien" - are translated. The Japanese
Giger Fan Club issues a limited edition of 100 signed and numbered copies of
their annual publication. A ten-volume edition of A. Crawly and individual works
by Lovecraft and T. Leary are published in slipcases with Giger motifs. Due to
strict construction codes, the four-story Giger bar planned for Tokyo retains
only fragments of the original concept. Despite Giger’s qualms, the bar is
built and is inaugurated by U. Steinle. Exhibition at Jes Petersen’s gallery
in Berlin. Takes part in an "Alchemy Symposium" at St. Gallen. The
book "Biomechanics" is published by Edition C, Zurich, Peter Baumann;
distributed in France with a text supplement in French by Bijan Aalam.
"Expanded Drawings" exhibition at Rolf Müller’s Galerie Art Magazin.
1989
Giger uses relief-type textures as a means of bringing more life into the
structure of his color paintings. Produces illustrations for Pier Geering’s
"Robofok" story, lettering by Daniel Affolter, and first color comics
for "Strapazin" and other magazines. Negotiations with A. Schraner
lead to a, club members-only, poster for the 10th international Hells Angels
meeting in Agasul, Switzerland. Negotations on "Alien 3" and talks
with Ridley Scott on a new film. Publication of Japanese edition of "Biomechanoids"
(Yuji Takeda, Tuttle-Mori, Treville, Tokyo). Involvement in "Engel, Teufel
und Dämonen" (Angels, Devils and Demons), a five-hour film by Heinz
Dieckmann on fantastic art. Giger writes down his reminiscences for Benedikt
Taschen Verlag, Cologne. Exhibition in Chateau Yverdon as part of the PR for the
first European science-fiction museum, Les Amis D’Ailleurs, which is to open
in 1991 as part of the 700th anniversary celebrations of the founding of Swiss
Confederation. Participates for the third time in Fêtes des Morts at Rolf Müller’s
Galerie Art Magazin. Collaboration on a cultural magazine with Bettina and Hans
Klink in Zurich.
1990
H.R. Giger celebrates his fiftieth birthday. Works on ideas for Ridley Scott’s
film "The Train". Scott, however, postpones the film. Preparations,
with the energetic assistance of Etienne Chatton and Barbara Gawryzak, for the
exhibition "Alien dans ses Meubles" taking place in the Chateau Gruyères
from May to September. Breaks away from his long-time manager, Ueli Steinle.
Beginning of his work with Leslie Barany, who has been a good friend for 10
years, as his new agent. Designs a bag for the Migros Group with a print run of
one million. Various exhibition in the Kunsthaus in Chur in honor of his
birthday. "Kunst und Krieg" in Berlin. Drawings in Guarda, and Nyon at
the Galerie Carrè Blanc. For CruschAlba restaurant in Guarda, he designs one
side of a gold coin (value Sf. 250) to be used as a voucher for a meal for two
people. Makes various iron casts of old sculptures. Participates in several
documentary films, including "Gens de la Lune" for the television
program Viva By C. Delieutraz; Telè cinè Romandie by Andrè Blanchoud; and
profiles for Japanese television. Further work with Mia Bonzanigo. Mona Uhl
successfully battles the chaos in the house. Furniture designs for the Giger Bar
in Chur in collaboration with T. Domenig, Chur. The most important project this
year, however, is the design for the American film "Alien 3".
Preparatory work for ART 1991 in the Galerie Hilt in Basel. Enquireis from
Disney Imageneering about future collaboration. Works on his own film project,
"The Mystery of San Gottardo". An accompanying book, in the form of a
graphic novel, in which Giger’s Biomechanoid plays and an important role, also
takes shape. H.R.G. regards this year as very important.
1991
Design work for the film "Dead Star" by Bill Malone. Exhibition
"Les Livres D’Esquisse" at Macadamla M.J.C. de Cluse, Cluse. "Arh+
book" vernissage at the Galerie Art Magazin, Zurich. H.R.G. is visited
Peter and Andreas Bürki from Swatch. Interviewed for "Warten"
magazine by Rudolf Stoert and Dana Bordan. At the Basel Art Fair91 Gallery Hilt
presents a one-man show with "swatched" Maxiwatches from "H.R.G.’s
Watch Abart". The exhibition "H.R.G.’s Biomechanic Visions"
opens in Davos with a talk by Jürg Federspiel. The documentary "Alien 1 -
3" by Paul Bernard, including an interview with H.R.G., is released by
CBS/20th Century Fox, together with the laser disc "Alien 1", which
includes documentary material and an interview with Z.R.G.. The Giger Library
Room is opened at the Maison D’Ailleurs, Yverdon. Science fiction museum with
Giger Library, renovated prison cells with paintings, sculptures and Alien
props.
1992
On February 8, the Giger Bar opens in the Kalchbühl Center, Chur. The
proprietor is Thomas Domenig. Juhani Nurmi produces, for Finnish television, the
30-minute documentary "Giger’s Passage to the Id" in Davos, Chur and
at Walo Steiner’s in Asp. Jürg Federspiel gives an interview for the program.
H.R.G. is interviewed in the Giger Bar for a BBC Omnibus program on Ridley
Scott. H.R.G. meets Roman Bütinger, one of the largest collectors of Alien
props. H.R.G. takes part in the Swiss television program Dynamics. Launch of the
computer game Dark Seed, produced by Cyberdreams (Patrick Ketchum) utilizing the
works of H.R.G. Work on the "Zodiac Fountain". Large H.R.G.
retrospective opens in the Museum Baviera in Zurich. H.R.G. writes a short story
about his occult experiences, which appears in the book "Arh+"
published by Benedikt Taschen Verlag. Paul Grau subsequently features the story
- about the "Satan’s Head" in H.R.G.’s collection - in the program
Unsolved Mysteries, broadcast by the German television corporation RTL. Giger is
given the 16mm film "Sex, Drugs and Giger", a 4 ½ animation based on
his paintings, by Sandra Beretta and Bätsch. The "Baphomet Tarot"
created by H.R.G. and Akron for A.G. Müller of Neuenhausen/Rhine is premiered
in the Giger Bar in Chur and in the Museum Baviera, Zurich.
1993
The "Alien" exhibition opens in the Museum Baviera, Zurich. Roman
Guttinger shows a large selection from his private collection. The exhibition is
chiefly devoted to "Alien 3" One-man retrospective in the Galerie
Humus. Interview with ARTE TV. One-man show in the Galerie Herzog, Büren zum
Hof. From August onwards, H.R.G.- works with Sandra Beretta on the projects
close to his heart, the books in particular. Swatch decides not to collaborate
with H.R.G. as planned earlier. One-man show entitled "H.R. Giger’s Watch
Abart ‘93" staged in the Galerie Bertram, Burgdorf, and in the Alexander
Gallery, New York. The latter exhibition is coordinated by Leslie Barany, who
also edits the catalog "H.R. Giger’s Watch Abart ‘93".
1994
Sascha Serfoezoe and Mia Bonzanigo assume charge , on Giger’s behalf, of
exhibitions in German, French and Italian speaking locations. One-man show
entitled "Giger’s Watch Abart" in the Galerie Mangisch, Zurich;
one-man show in the Galerie Eclisse, Locarno. H.R.G. is guest lecturer for a
semester at the College of Design (GBMS) in Zurich. In February , he begins work
on the film "Species" for MGM. Takes part in group exhibitions in the
Galerie Hartmann, Munich, at the Tattoo Convention in Bologna, and in the
festivals Fetisch & Kult, Tempel, Munich and DuFantastique au Vesionnaire in
Venice. H.R.G. starts planning a Giger-Museum to present the fullscope of his
work. Begins work on the ghost train for "Species" in collaboration
with Atelier de Fries and Andy Schedler of FormArt.
1995
Serfoezoe works with Giger on special projects. He develops the special gift of
being able to decipher H.R.G.’s handwriting without wanting to change its
content or put it in good German. "The Ghost Train" is transported to
L.A.. One-man show as part of the "13ème festival du film fantastique"
in Brussels. One-man show in Giessen Kunsthalle, "Konfrontationen"
with S. Ruppert. Other exhibitions including "Le Train Fantôme" in
the Maison D’Ailleurs, Yverdon; "Synaesthesia", Mary Anthony
Galleries, N.Y.C., Psychedelic Lolution Gallery, N.Y.C.; "Abitare il Temo",
Delirium Design, Verona. Continues work on "Species", the
science-fiction film by R. Donaldson based on the screenplay by D. Feldman and
produced by Frank Mancuso, Jr. for MGM, L.A.. For the film, H.R.G. designs and
extraterrestrial beauty and a "minimalized" ghost train. The film is
released in the USA in July and is MGM’s biggest success to date: box office
take is US$ 17.1 million in one week alone. H.R.G.’s work on
"Species" inspires him to build a garden train, which he creates as
outdoor installation, constructing a 7 1/4-gauge railway in his garden. He is
helped by Harry Omura, Florian, Andrè Margretiner, Stahl & Traum, Ball
& Sohn, Robert Christoph Jr. , Marco Poleni, Fritz Rütimann, Andy Stutz and
S. Beretta tackle several book projects, including the book accompanying the
film "Species", published before the year is out, and another book on
Giger’s Film designs. The editing and translating of both of these books is
supervised by L. Barany. He launches his project, "H.R. Giger Under Your
Skin" and begins to assemble photographs of tattoos featuring Giger motifs.
H.R. Giger also works with Leslie Barany on a comprehensive book on his
"Mystery of San Gottardo" project, to be published simultaneously in
English and German. Together with computer graphics specialists Fabian Wicki in
Berne and PanVision, H.R.G. creates 3-D images for a 1996 Benedikt Taschen
calendar and begins on the book "www H.R. Giger com".
1996
Zurich, Kunsthaus: "Illusion, Emotion, Realität", a centennial
exhibition celebrating 100 years of film, curated by Dr. H. Szeemann. Further
exhibitions in Vienna, Venice and Barcelona. F. Alain Gegauf becomes a friend
and advisor to H.R.G.. H.R.G. participates with four drawings "Sex
Education Charts" in the Erotika exhibit at the Kunsthaus Zürich. Mia
organizes a big retrospective in Milan, at the Palazzo Bagatti Valsecchi, "H.R.Giger
- Visioni di Fine Millennio, Arteutopia". Development of an idea for a new
film project based on a story and sculpture by H.R.G.: "The Cross and the
Blade". Experiments with holos, 100 x 100cm, in collaboration with Urs
Fries and Fischers. In collaboration with Thomas Riehn, the official Giger
Internet WebSite goes online on March 19 under the address "http://www.HRGiger.com".
In the first year, over 200,000 visitors from over 100 countries log on.
1997
Giger's new book "www HRGiger com" is published by the publishing
company Benedikt Taschen (Cologne), an authentic life story Giger's from the
early sixties till today. On the 11th of September the St. Germain Gruyeres AG
purchase by auction the Castle St. Germain for the formation of the new Giger-Museum.
1998
Giger's new book "Mystery of San Gottardo" is published by the
publishing company Benedikt Taschen - Cologne. Book "H.R. Giger's
Retrospective 1964 - 84", Morpheus International - Los Angeles.
CFM Gallery, New York "International Artists - Peep Show". Sapporo,
Museum Otaru "Phantastic Realism". Restaurant 360, New York
"Sculptures and Prints". Private Art-Collection of HR Giger at the
Castle St. Germain - Gruyeres.
2000
H.R. Giger celebrates his sixtieth birthday. More than 1.000.000 visitors
on Giger's official WebSite www.HRGiger.com.
2001
H.R. Giger lives and works in Zurich - Switzerland