H.R. Giger, February 5, 1940 - May 12, 2014

One of the pioneers of late-20th century macabre surrealist art, H.R. Giger is no more, but his legacy will be eternal!

Giger may be well-known for being the muse and visionary behind Alien, but his career extends far beyond Hollywood, and into the nightmares of people from around the world. He painted his first scenes in 1964, published his Necronomicon, and has become both renowned artist and benefactor. He has constructed 3D worlds of his artwork, at his bars in Tokyo, Chur and Gruyeres, where spine arches support ribcage walls, enclosing you in the cold, sharp interior of some vast otherworldly creature.

Giger paints a world where technology finally meets flesh, where sweet blood ceases to course through mechanical veins, and instead an icy, bitter slime infects the bulbous corporeal forms. These are soulless, leathery, taloned forms, lithe and lightspeed in their movements, existing in a misty underworld. If these are the images that his mind conjures, then he is exorcising some demons indeed.

Check out a selections of Giger’s works used by some great rock, metal bands!

H.R. Giger, February 5, 1940 - May 12, 2014

"I fight the impending lure of belated sleep
For fear of waking up and you are gone"

Triptykon, "My Pain", 2010

"For the first time in 74 years, last night was a night not illuminated by the indescribable light that was H.R. Giger.

H.R. Giger became our mentor, against all odds, when we, somewhat audaciously, first established contact with him some 30 years ago. At a time when almost everybody ridiculed, ignored, or even obstructed the music the then almost completely unknown Swiss underground band Hellhammer was creating, Giger listened to us, talked to us, and gave us a chance. Not least at a time when he was at one of many peaks of his path.

A little more than a year later, his exceptionally stunning art made what might be one of Celtic Frost's most important albums, "To Mega Therion", even more significant. Other links to Giger's universe also manifested themselves, almost as if it was predestined.

Eventually, after many more years, the mentorship became a friendship. It was a friendship and a personal connection I valued infinitely, and it also included his wonderful wife, Carmen, and many other remarkable people that were part of his circle.

When Celtic Frost came to an end so acrimoniously in 2008, H.R. Giger and his wife were among those who witnessed my uncontained despair and stood by me. That Giger subsequently agreed to collaborate with my new group, Triptykon, and thus enabled us to release our first album, "Eparistera Daimones", with one of his most dramatic paintings on the cover meant the world to me.

It apparently pleased Giger, too. He told me so on several occasions, and he completely stunned me in October 2011 by proposing that we continue the collaboration between him and Triptykon. I would have never asked for such a thing, because I never would have wanted to appear insatiable. He brushed such reservations aside, and it was his mentorship, friendship, and art that enabled us, once again, to release a second album on which music and cover art formed a seamless symbiosis. Only a few weeks ago, he held the result in his hands and loved it.

Regardless of anything I may write about H.R. Giger, however, none of these words will ever be able to truly, accurately describe him as a person and as a friend. It is utterly inconceivable to imagine a world without his wit, his perception, his genius, his horizon, his determination, his humour, his friendship, and his immeasurable kindness. And yet, we are now left in exactly such a world."

Tom Gabriel Warrior for Triptykon, May 13, 2014