The Unseen Cinema of H.R. Giger at Museum of Arts and Design NYC

Everyone dreams, more or less, but few people trust themselves to relate or present  their dreams, because they are inhibited from making public their perverse thoughts.

The words of H.R. Giger ring true to this day, just a couple of days past the one year anniversary of his death. This visionary artist and filmmaker created because his art drove him to, and he did not shy away from images that most human beings fear or suppress. This is why his work has been so influential on many of the creative people in the underground, who also strive to unleash their darker visions through their art, film and music.

H.R. Giger’s body of work is hugely inspirational, and although he is best known for his paintings and sculpture, he also worked with many filmmakers, making several strange and surreal cinematic pieces in collaborations with friends and directors. To celebrate his enduring legacy, the Museum of Arts and Design is showcasing never before seen films by and about H.R. Giger in a series of events curated by Zev Deans of Panorama Programming and Giger’s agent of 35 years, Leslie Barany, a mini film festival entitled The Unseen Cinema of H.R. Giger, a collaborative effort with the HR Giger Museum and the HR Giger Documentary Film Festival. On May 22nd, The Collaborations of HR Giger will screen his collaborative artistic and film works with films by directors FM Murer and JJ Wittmer, also featuring an introduction by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein. One of the films screening that night, Swissmade 2069, a dystopian science fiction film never before screened in the US, is the debut of Giger’s signature prosthetic and costume design. On May 23rd, you are invited Inside HR Giger’s Sanctuaries, where a series of documentary films takes the audience into the mind of this great visionary, exploring his influences and inspirations. Later the same day is Behind the Scenes of HR Giger’s Studio, where we are taken into his creative process as he works in his studio and on the set of his most famous film project, Alien. These films are a must-see for any admirer of Giger’s work, and while it’s impossible to fully comprehend the mysteries he created, they will go a long way to bringing his creative process to life and paying tribute to one of the world’s great artistic minds. Tickets and event info are available here, and watch the trailer for The Unseen Cinema of H.R. Giger below!

THE UNSEEN CINEMA OF HR GIGER at the Museum of Arts and Design from Panorama Programming on Vimeo.