Swiss Artist HR Giger died yesterday at age 74

The renowned Swiss artist H.R. Giger has died at the age of 74, as a result of injuries sustained in a fall. Giger, who passed away in a Zurich hospital, was most famous for the alien monster he created for the movie of the same name.

The terrifying creature and sets he created for Ridley Scott’s film earned him an Oscar for special effects in 1980. In the art world, Giger is appreciated for his wide body of work in the fantastic realism and surrealistic genres.

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HR Giger was a frequent visitor in Vienna, the birthplace of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism and the home of his friend and mentor Ernst Fuchs. Such an occasion happened at the Exhibition at the Kunsthaus Wien - it may have been the last time they saw each other.

Dreams and Visions – Kunst Haus Wien

Professor Ernst Fuchs was invited as the special guest speaker to say some words about Giger and his artwork. He is known to have greatly influenced HR Giger. Both are close and long standing friends and are known to greatly admire each other’s vast catalogue of works. (from the blog by Fantastic Visions)

He also met occasionally with Vienna based artists such as 

Peter Gric, Christian Flora and Hanno Karlhuber. 

Peter Gric and HR Giger - photo courtesy Peter Gric

Peter Gric, Christian Flora and HR Giger - photo courtesy Peter Gric

Peter Gric, HR Giger and Hanno Karlhuber - photo courtesy Peter Gric

Peter Gric and HR Giger - photo courtesy Peter Gric

More about HR Giger, with additional links (including his official website)  can be found at the VISIONARY ART GALLERY

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Thanks Peter Gric for the use of your archived photos - some of which had never been published before.