omewhere between the worlds of sci-fi, fanta- sy, and surrealism lies the realm of the Swiss artist H.R. Giger, The man perhaps most widely known for creating the creepy and beautiful- Visu- al effects for the movie Alien. For 35 years, Giger has made his name crafting art (including sculp- ture, paintings, furniture and film projects) and creating the Biomechanical style, a striking and dramatic synthesis of flesh and machine. Now, in its inaugural show, the East Village's Fuse Gallery is hosting H.R. Giger/NYC 2002, an exhibition of this pioneer's recent sculptures and prints, his first in the city since 1994. lt's sure to draw in every design and sci-fi junkie in Manhattan, as well as pop art fans who might remember the album cov- ers Giger created for Debbie Harry (Koo Koo, 1981) and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (Brain Salad Surgery, 1973). Still enjoying forays into the music world, Giger recently created an aluminum-cast sculpture of a beautiful but deadly fernale creature which morphs into a microphone stand (pictured) for Jonathan Davis of the band Korn. lt's a fitting time for this otherworldly exhib- it, as the surrealist's main Site of New York based art—the specially designed H.R. Giger Room upstairs at the Limelight— has just been disman- tled for that club's renovations. And setting his show in a new East Village artspace is sure to tune in a fresh generation to Giger's fantastic creations. True Giger devotees can also plan their pilgrimage to Gruyères, Switzerland where the artist has assembled an entire museum of his works within a historic 400-year-old chateau, Meanwhile, the 62-year-old artist continues to push the envelope, creating excitingly eerie and eclectic imagery which can be seen everywhere—from the screen at your local mulliplex to even a recent collection of snow- and skaleboards sold in Europe. At once intimate, intricate and alienating, his work still packs a thrill. As his fan and friend Debbie Harry puls it: "The clandestine has always altracted peo- ple, just as the forbidden fruit has, The same goes for Giger and his powerful work. He goes beyond conventional; he takes things further than most of us do." —John Polly

H.R. Giger/NVC 2002: Recent Sculptures & Prints is at the Fuse Gallery (93 Second Ave; 777-7988) from March 16th-April 28th. Gallery hours: Tue-Sat 12pm-5pm, and by appointment. For more infor- mation about the artist, visit online at www.hrgiger- museum.com,

Creepy, kooky and surreal, the art of H.R. Giger Invades the East Village.

Microphone stand photo: Louis Stalder. Digital Imaging: Vicktor Koan. Concept: Les Barany, Micropfione Stand, 2001. Alumlnum, Edition of 5. 150cm, Bambi Alien 3, 1993. Bronze Edition of 5. 34 x 20 x 10cm, Floorplates, 1998, Aluminum and Rubber, 93 x 77cm. © H.R. Giger. All Rlghts Reserved. pdf created by www.littlegiger.com