Hans Ruedi Giger (1940-2014), one of Switzerland's most groundbreaking artists, revolutionized visual culture through his groundbreaking biomechanical style which fused human anatomy and machinery - leaving an impactful mark in art, film and music alike. Throughout his extensive and fruitful career that spanned over half a century, Giger utilized a diverse range of artistic media, including but not limited to prints, drawings, paintings, sculptures, furniture, set designs, record covers, architecture, musical instruments, computer games and watches. His body of work was an outpouring of the nightmares that tormented him; stemming from childhood traumas as well as atrocities committed during both world wars. Giger explored the depths of our human psyche through his dark and surrealist artwork, weaving science fiction with horror to create hauntingly beautiful works that explored our deepest fears and desires that fused elements of the occult and macabre. Giger rose to international fame for his renowned creation - the Alien Xenomorph monster from Ridley Scott's Alien film franchise (1979-2017) - earning him two Oscar nominations and an Academy Award in 1980 for Best Achievement in Visual Effects. Alien forever changed how science fiction and horror were presented, setting a new bar for special effects use in cinema. Since then, the Alien has become an iconic cultural figure - its design regularly appearing in films, TV shows, tattoos and video games. Giger continues to inspire a new generation of artists with the largest body of his work permanently showcased at the H.R. Giger Museum in Gruyères, Switzerland.

H.R. Giger's “Necronom (Alien III) 2005” is a timeless, iconic sculpture reflecting Giger’s artistic prowess and profound cultural influence. Standing as his most acclaimed work, this life-sized sculpture of a humanoid figure with long arms, an extended head, and sinewy muscles is a testament to Giger’s skill at tapping into the human psyche, through fears associated with death, sexuality, bodily violation and terror. This sculpture, derived from the iconic Xenomorph Giger invented for Ridley Scott’s Alien in 1979 revolutionized film monster depictions by offering audiences something both incomprehensible and relatable - an unprecedented monster that combined aspects of familiar creatures with its own unique and otherworldly features. Crafted in 2011, this sculpture is the first and only one created by Giger himself after finishing the 2005 prototype. With only six editions produced in the world, it stands as a testament to Giger's unparalleled traditional craftsmanship. Edition 1 later became the model for subsequent editions that were produced under Giger’s close supervision. Serving as a prime example of Giger’s investigation of macabre imagery within our subconscious, the work draws on key components from twentieth-century Zeitgeist to create an unsettling creature that depicts an alternate universe where reality and fantasy collide. Just as Giger's work invites us to consider the effects of technology and artificial intelligence on humanity, the Necronom sculpture prompts us to question our own mortality and the impermanence of life. His use of fantastical realism challenges us to confront aspects of our darker subconscious and consider how we navigate our complex relationship with the machines and technology that shape our world.