The joint exhibition "H.R.GIGER × SORAYAMA" featuring H.R. Giger and Hajime Sorayama will be held from Saturday, December 26, 2020, to Monday, January 11, 2021, at PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO in Shibuya Parco, Tokyo.

H.R. Giger, a Swiss artist known as the creature designer for the film "Alien," and Hajime Sorayama, a contemporary Japanese artist renowned for his "Sexy Robot" and "Gynoid" series.

Under the direction of NANZUKA, an art gallery in Shibuya, this exhibition features paintings and sculptures by both H.R. Giger and Hajime Sorayama, with Alessio Ascali, Creative Director of the Italian art magazine "Kaleidoscope," serving as curator.
Additionally, a commemorative book from Kaleidoscope and BE@RBRICKs based on H.R. Giger's own pre-death designs, produced by MEDICOM TOY as "BE@RBRICK H.R. GIGER 100% & 400% / 1000% WHITE CHROME Ver. / BLACK CHROME Ver.," will be released. A revival screening of the documentary "DARK STAR: H.R. Giger's World" at WHITE CINE QUINTO and an exhibition at 2G TOKYO are also planned as related events.

To commemorate the opening, we spoke with curator Alessio Ascali about the exhibition's highlights and the common appeal of both artists.

Alessio Ascali
Founder and Creative Director of the creative studio and contemporary art magazine "Kaleidoscope," based in Milan, Italy. Since 2017, he has been curating the program for "Spazio Maiocchi," a social space in Milan that merges art, design, and fashion, shaping new cultural experiences.

—H.R. Giger's name became widely known in Japan after director Ridley Scott's film "Alien" (1979) became a major hit. How is he received in Europe?

AlessioHe holds a very special place for sci-fi enthusiasts. This is not only due to "Alien" but also to the concept designs he created for Alejandro Jodorowsky's unfinished masterpiece, "Dune." At the same time, he is recognized as a versatile artist who masterfully employs an astonishing range of media, including furniture, prints, paintings, and sculptures. If you visit Europe, be sure to visit the "H.R. Giger Museum" near his birthplace in Gruyères, Switzerland. It's an immersive experience.

H.R. GIGER(Hans Ruedi Giger). 1940-2014, born in Switzerland. Known for his distinctive style that combines human body parts with mechanical forms using an airbrush. The creature design for the film "Alien" (1979), which won the 52nd Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, brought his "overwhelming vision of death and futurism" to public attention.

—Last year, you curated the joint exhibition "Sterling Ruby x H.R. Giger" at Spazio Maiocchi in Milan, featuring Los Angeles-based artist Sterling Ruby. What was the concept behind this exhibition?

AlessioWe were preparing to reprint the last interview book with H.R. Giger, conducted just before his passing in 2014, when we began preparations for an exhibition with Sterling Ruby. During our concept discussions, I learned for the first time that he was a huge fan of H.R. Giger and had been creating a series of collages dedicated to him. From there, we decided to proceed with two exhibitions concurrently, allocating separate spaces for Ruby and Giger, and displaying the collage series in the connecting corridor. This exhibition was a truly remarkable project and received significant acclaim worldwide.

—H.R. Giger's work is popular in Japan as well, but what do you find appealing about it?

AlessioI believe Japan's interest in science fiction, particularly the fusion of humans and machines, remains very strong. My opinion is that this interest has been carefully nurtured by otaku culture, leading to a subgenre focused on mecha, such as robots, cyborgs, and androids. This is precisely what Giger's work embodies.

—In the film "DARK STAR: H.R. Giger's World" (2014), which is being re-screened, Giger mentions that he began painting to overcome his fear of the skull his father gave him as a child and the mummies he saw in museums. Considering his subsequent journey, what do you believe were the roots of Giger's creative drive?

AlessioWhile Giger may have feared those elements, I believe he was also captivated by them. I see "fear and desire" as two sides of the same coin, and Giger, from a young age, embraced this complexity and transformed it into a driving force for his imagination.

Film"DARK STAR: H.R. Giger's World"(Provided by/Distributed by Nikkatsu)
Screening Period: Friday, December 25, 2020 – Thursday, January 14, 2021 (Closed December 31 and January 1)
Venue: WHITE CINE QUINTO (Shibuya Parco 8F)
Price: ¥1,200 (flat rate) (¥1,000 with exhibition ticket)
Official Website:https://www.cinequinto.com/white/
©️2015 T&C Film ©️HR Giger Estate

—2020 marked the 80th anniversary of Giger's birth. Were there any anniversary events held in his home country of Switzerland or elsewhere in Europe?

AlessioUnfortunately, due to the pandemic, celebrations in Europe were not possible. However, we consider this exhibition in Japan to be the perfect opportunity to celebrate Giger's anniversary.

—Could you tell us about the "Giger x Sorayama" exhibition being held this time?

AlessioI have known Sorayama's work for many years and featured him in "Kaleidoscope" in the past. I am also an avid collector of his books since the 1980s. While discussing with Masashi Nanuka of NANZUKA, I realized that although these two artists appear completely different, they actually share numerous commonalities. Both are widely known as masters of airbrush painting and share an interest in "AI," "eternal life," and the "post-human." Sorayama's androids, which form the core of his work and express feminine characteristics, represent an interest in the relationship between life, sex, and death.

—Will the concept differ from the joint exhibition with Sterling Ruby?

AlessioYes. The main difference is that instead of giving each artist their own space, we are combining their works to create a direct dialogue between them. This exhibition features over 50 paintings and sculptures by both artists, spanning from the 1960s to 2020. Notably, there is a life-size recreation of the concept design for "Alien." The commemorative book from Kaleidoscope, available for purchase at the venue, features an even wider selection of works.

—Medicom Toy will also release WHITE CHROME Ver. / BLACK CHROME Ver. of the BE@RBRICK, designed by Giger himself in 2007.

AlessioI am truly delighted that the dream of creating these special BE@RBRICKs has come true. Toy culture is a standard in Japan, and I believe this will make the exhibition even more memorable.

—Finally, could you offer a message to those looking forward to this joint exhibition?

AlessioWhen you visit this exhibition, let's embrace the fusion of fear and desire, following Giger's example!

"H.R.GIGER×SORAYAMA"
Period: Saturday, December 26, 2020 – Monday, January 11, 2021
Venue: PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO
Address: 4F Shibuya Parco, 15-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Closes at 6:00 PM on December 31 and January 11)
Closed: January 1 (Hours may be subject to change)
Admission: ¥1,000
Note: Some exhibits may be restricted to visitors aged 18 and over (R-18).

Simultaneous Exhibition: "H.R.GIGER×SORAYAMA" @ 2G TOKYO
In conjunction with this exhibition, works will also be displayed at the NANZUKA gallery within 2G TOKYO. Furthermore, 2G TOKYO will offer a variety of limited-edition merchandise commemorating this exhibition.
Period: Saturday, December 26, 2020 – Sunday, January 24, 2021
Venue: 2G TOKYO (Shibuya PARCO 2F)
TEL: 03-6452-5003
HP:https://2gtokyo.com/
Please check the official website and social media for details.

Limited Edition Merchandise
BE@RBRICK H.R. GIGER 100% & 400% / 1000% WHITE CHROME Ver. / BLACK CHROME Ver.
BE@RBRICKs designed by Giger himself in 2007 for the "BE@RBRICK WORLD WIDE TOUR" exhibition (where creators from around the world expressed their unique visions on 700mm tall 1000% BE@RBRICKs) held at Parco Factory (formerly Shibuya Parco Part 1, 6F). These are now available in WHITE CHROME Ver. / BLACK CHROME Ver. for this exhibition.

Size: Approx. 70mm (100%) / 280mm (400%) / 700mm (1000%) in height each
Price: [100% & 400%] ¥20,000 each (excluding tax) / [1000%] ¥98,000 (excluding tax)
Sales and entry procedures will be announced on the official website.
©️ 2020 by HR GIGER. All rights reserved.
BE@RBRICK TM & ©︎ 2001-2020 MEDICOM TOY CORPORATION. All rights reserved.