Editing H.R. Giger

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{{Creative Infobox
| image              = HR Giger 2012.jpg
| image_size         = 250px
| caption            = Giger in his studio, circa 2012.
| name               = H.R. Giger
| birth_name         = Hans Ruedi Giger
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1940|02|05}}
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|2014|05|12|1940|02|05}}
| occupation         = Surrealist Artist, Sculptor, Designer
| nationality        = Swiss
| notable_work       = ''[[Alien (1979)|Alien]]'', ''[[Species (film)|Species]]'', ''[[Poltergeist II: The Other Side]]''
| notable_artifacts  = [[Xenomorph Suit]], [[Facehugger]], [[Chestburster]], [[Derelict Alien "Space Jockey" Chair]], [[Alien Egg]]
| awards             = [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects]] (1980)
| wikipedia_link     = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._R._Giger
| imdb_link          = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0317344/
| official_site      = https://www.hrgiger.com/
}}

'''Hans Ruedi "H.R." Giger''' (1940–2014) was a Swiss surrealist artist whose nightmarish vision was responsible for the iconic design of the titular creature and its related artifacts in the film ''[[Alien (1979)|Alien]]''.

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==Biography & Career==
Born in Chur, Switzerland, Giger studied architecture and industrial design before pursuing a career in fine art. He quickly developed a reputation for his surreal and often disturbing paintings and sculptures. He was introduced to director [[Ridley Scott]] by screenwriter [[Dan O'Bannon]], who had previously worked with Giger on [[Alejandro Jodorowsky]]'s aborted ''Dune'' project. Scott was immediately captivated by Giger's book of art, ''Necronomicon'', and hired him to design the alien elements for the film.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/may/13/hr-giger-alien-artist-obituary "HR Giger obituary," ''The Guardian'', May 13, 2014].</ref> His work on ''Alien'', alongside collaborators like [[Carlo Rambaldi]] and [[Brian Johnson]], earned him an [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects]] in 1980.<ref>[http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/giger_h_r "Giger, H R," ''The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction'', October 29, 2021].</ref>

==Signature Style==
Giger's work is defined by its "biomechanical" aesthetic, a term he coined to describe the fusion of human anatomy and physiology with machinery and technology. His art is characteristically dark, monochromatic, and deeply imbued with nightmarish and sexual imagery. This unique style was instrumental in creating the unsettling and truly alien feel of the Xenomorph and its environment.

==Notable Artifact Contributions==
The following is a list of notable artifacts designed or constructed by H.R. Giger.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|+
! Artifact
! Media
! Contribution
|-
| [[Xenomorph Suit]]
| ''[[Alien (1979)|Alien]]''
| Lead designer. The creature's entire form was based on his 1976 painting ''Necronom IV''. He sculpted the creature's body using plasticine over a real human skull and snake vertebrae, and collaborated with [[Carlo Rambaldi]] on the animatronic head.<ref name="makingofalien">J.W. Rinzler, ''The Making of Alien'', Titan Books, 2019, p. 114.</ref>
|-
| [[Facehugger]]
| ''[[Alien (1979)|Alien]]''
| Created the initial concept paintings. The final design was a collaboration, but it was Giger's "finger-like" digits that defined the creature's look.
|-
| [[Derelict Alien "Space Jockey" Chair]]
| ''[[Alien (1979)|Alien]]''
| Designed the entire derelict spacecraft, its corridors, and the iconic "Space Jockey" pilot, based on his painting ''Landscape XX''.<ref name="makingofalien"/>
|-
| [[Alien Egg]]
| ''[[Alien (1979)|Alien]]''
| Designed the leathery, organic egg (Ovomorph) with its four-lobed opening, which he envisioned as a "vagina with a cross." He suggested using real animal parts for the interior to create a realistic effect.<ref>[https://www.zenovich.com/hr-giger-and-the-making-of-alien/ "H.R. Giger and the Making of Alien," Zenovich Productions].</ref>
|}

==Filmography==
* ''[[Alien (1979)|Alien]]'' (1979) - Alien design
* ''[[Poltergeist II: The Other Side]]'' (1986) - Creature design
* ''[[Alien 3]]'' (1992) - Alien design (redesigned)
* ''[[Species (film)|Species]]'' (1995) - Creature design

==Trivia==
* Giger was not just a designer; he was hands-on during production, often airbrushing the sets and props himself to ensure they matched his vision.

==See Also==
* [[Ridley Scott]]
* [[Dan O'Bannon]]
* [[Carlo Rambaldi]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Conceptual Artists]]
[[Category:Designers]]
[[Category:Academy Award Winners]]