Giger and the tale of the Scarecrow

leading from

Development of Giger's art

sketch from 1961 published in the book Giger ARh+

As a child, HR Giger was told the story of a scarecrow and the impressions that it left followed him through life and he noticed that it occasionally found its way into his artwork. He thought that this stake-bound life showed him the senselessness of existence, and existence better never begun. Many of his works reflected this hopeless state of enslavement which left no room for religious beliefs  He lived much of his life with a nihilist point of view but towards the end of his life, he actually felt quite fulfilled.

Sources Quotes

1. HR Giger: The first impaled figure to fascinate me as a child was a living scarecrow in a local fairytale, which I made my mother read me again and again. I think this stake-bound life, for whom redemption meant death as soon as possible, showed me the senselessness of existence. An existence better never begun. Many of my works reflect this state of hopeless enslavement which leaves no room for religious beliefs.  (Giger ARh+ , p26, 2001)
2. Petra Wallace, via email : In HR Giger ARh+, you speak of a story your mother used to tell about a scarecrow, and how it spoke to you as a child about the "senselessness of existence". Do you still feel that existence is worthless today? Or, given the passing years, has life become more important to you? Does life make more sense the older you get?
   HR Giger: The story you are referring to is a fairy tale which impressed very much in my early youth and has followed me through life. Such dark fairy tales left quite an impression with me at the time. It has occasionally also found its way into my work. I actually do feel quite fulfilled with my life these days. (Bizarre Magazine  #195, 2012)