Demon Master - the little HR Giger Page

Giger sits beneath the triangular mirror which was the inspiration for the next movie to feature his works. Photo byLes Paul Robley.all of his films so much. I am agreat admirer of David Lynch andI would very much like to work forhim.LPR: Do you read any Americanscience fiction, fantasy or horror?GIGER: No, just books that aretranslated into German.LPR: Which particular authorshave inspired you?GIGER: Lovecraft, for one. Mybooks I gave the titles NecronomiconI and II, and in almost all ofLovecraft's stories the Necronomicon(a legendary book of magic)is mentioned. Also, I like GustavMeyrink who wrote Der Golem.LPR: How often do you go outsideyour dreams and ideas anduse outside subject matter for yourpaintings?GIGER: It depends what you do.If you've drunk too much wineand take some sleeping pills, itcould create a melange that bringsyou outside this room or makesyou go in through the walls. I don'tknow really how it works, but itoften happens to me, things likethat. I'm very curious how itworks, but I never found out.LPR: What about your use ofMordor from "Lord of the Rings?"GIGER: I like this book verymuch, and I was looking for a titlefor my works. It was a nice namefor my paintings so I adapted thesewords for them.LPR: How do you describe yourselfas an artist?GIGER: I'm an artist not very"in." Just on the fringe. Fantasticart is never in. It's always a littleon the side. There are just a fewpeople who like fantastic art. InZurich I think I'm alone. Switzerlandis not a very fantastic land. Ifsomeone talks about Switzerland,it's always just about banks andmoney and mountains. Not aboutartLPR: Harry Lime said it well in"The Third Man." Their onlyclaim to fame is chocolate and thecuckoo clock.GIGER: (laughs) Now if you goto the Pyramids of Giza in Egyptand they hear you're from Switzerland,they call you "Kucku-herschling."It's a box used in the kitchenmeaning Suisse-Deutsche.LPR: That's funny, since cuckooclocks originate from the BlackForest in Germany, not Switzerland,like everyone thinks. Doesyour mother know what you paintfor a living? What does she thinkabout the phalluses and deadbabies?GIGER: She likes my work verymuch because she's my motherand, therefore, must like what I do.(laughs) Sometimes she's a little bitashamed of what I do. If there areother people around, she sometimeshas to defend my work, but