H R Giger: Alien artist and designer dies aged 74

The bio-mechanical designer died after a fall

H R Giger, the Swiss artist and designer of Ridley Scott's Alien, has died, aged 74.

Hans Rudolf 'Ruedi' Giger sustained injuries caused by a fall, Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung has reported.

He is best known for his Xenomorph alien, which appears in Scott’s sci-fi horror film. The design won him an Oscar for visual effects in 1980.

Born in 1940, Giger described his style as “biomechanical”.

He studied architecture and industrial design in Zurich and started his career in interior design, before later moving into art.

One of his pieces - Necronom IV - inspired the alien killer in Scott’s famous film.

He also worked on Alien 3, Dune, Prometheus, Poltergeist II: The Other Side and directed several films, including Swiss Made, Tagtarum, and Necronomicon.

In 1998, he opened his own museum in Gruyeres, Switzerland, which is dedicated to his work, as well as pieces from his own art collection, including works by Salvador Dali and Dada.

He is survived by his wife, Carmen Maria Scheifele Giger, who runs the museum.

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