Warning : The following post contains nudity/adult content.

When Taschen announced its massive monograph tome for the late HR Giger a few years back I was both elated and also sad at the same time, because the book was a limited print edition with a price point that would bankrupt me. But the good thing about Taschen is that they very often release a much cheaper edition that the masses can afford and enjoy, and this book is one of them.

Though coming in a much smaller format, this edition nonetheless boast over 500 pages of HR Giger’s famously evocative and erotically charged “biomechanical” art pieces. There are also a good number of art work from his creature designs for Ridley Scott’s Alien, but because they are so commonly seen I’ve chosen to feature his other pieces in my preview images below.

Publisher book synopsis – “At its essence, Giger’s art digs down into our psyches and touches our very deepest primal instincts and fears. His art stands in a category of its own. The proof of this lies in the intensity of his work and imagination, which I can only compare to Hieronymus Bosch and Francis Bacon in their powers to provoke and disturb.” ―Ridley Scott

Swiss artist HR Giger (1940–2014) is most famous for his creation of the space monster in Ridley Scott’s 1979 horror sci-fi film Alien, which earned him an Oscar. Yet this was just one of the most popular expressions of Giger’s biomechanical arsenal of creatures, which consistently merged hybrids of human and machine into images of haunting power and dark psychedelia. The visions drew on demons of the past, as well as evoking mythologies for the future. Above all, they gave expression to the collective fears and fantasies of his age: fear of the atom, of pollution and wasted resources, and of a future in which our bodies depend on machines for survival.

Following the SUMO-sized monograph which was begun shortly before the artist’s unexpected death, this affordable anniversay edition pays homage to Giger’s unique vision. The book shows the complete story of Giger’s life and art, his sculptures, film design, and iconic album covers as well as the heritage he left us in his own artist’s museum and self-designed bar in the Swiss Alps. In an in-depth essay, Giger scholar Andreas J. Hirsch plunges into the themes of the artist’s oeuvre while an extensive biography draws on contemporary quotes and Giger’s own statements.

About the series

TASCHEN is 40! Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible publishing, helping bookworms around the world curate their own library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia at an unbeatable price. Today we celebrate 40 years of incredible books by staying true to our company credo. The 40 series presents new editions of some of the stars of our program―now more compact, friendly in price, and still realized with the same commitment to impeccable production.

I’ve never seen in person the giant sized monograph book that this mini edition is based on, but I can only imagine just how spectacular HR Giger’s art work would look on large format print. That said, I am still grateful that Taschen released this smaller sized edition that is a huge bang for your buck for over 500 pages of the artist’s portfolio at around $15. The compact size is easy to read and browse as well. Definitely one for HR Giger fans. Recommended.

HR Giger Taschen 40th Edition details :

– Dimensions – ‎ 6.4 x 1.6 x 8.8 inches
– hardcover, 512 pages
– Full color, in English/French/German

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