H.R. Giger’s multi-faceted career: From surrealistic dream landscapes to album cover designs and sculptures For decades H.R. Giger (1940—2014) reigned as one of the leading exponents of fantastic art. After he studied interior and industrial design for eight years at the School of Commercial Art in Zurich, Switzerland, from 1962 till 1970, he was soon gaining attention as an independent artist, with endeavors ranging from surrealistic dream landscapes created with a spray gun and stencils, to album cover designs for famous pop stars, and sculptures. In addition, Giger’s multi-faceted career includes designing two bars, located in Tokyo and Chur, as well as work on various film projects—his creation of the set design and title figure for Ridley Scott’s film Alien won him not only international fame but also an Academy Award for Best Achievement for Visual Effects (1980). About the series: Each book in TASCHEN’s Basic Art series features: a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance a concise biography approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions

HR Giger first received acclaim in the 1960s with his airbrushed fantasy landscapes. However, he scored his breakthrough in applied art, and particularly in his high-profile movie work on Ridley Scott's "Alien". In 1980, he received an Oscar for "Best Achievement for Visual Effects" for his designs of the film's title creature and its otherworldly environment. His other celebrated film projects include "Poltergeist II", "Alien 3" and "Species", for which he designed a deadly but beautiful half-extraterrestrial female creature and a fantastic nightmare train. Giger's album covers for Debbie Harry and Emerson, Lake and Palmer were voted as being among the top hundred in music history by music journalists, while furniture designed by Giger graces a bar in Chur, Switzerland. This book was designed by the artist himself, and features detailed commentaries in which Giger describes his work from the early 1960s to the late 1990s; the authentic voice of the master.

Taschen 25週年特別版！ Nobuyoshi Araki荒木經維是近年來最受爭議的攝影大師，對於批評他的人而言，他的作品似乎總是情色與女性厭惡貶低者，不過欣賞他的作品的人則說他是攝影界一個激進主義者和一個革命家。荒木經維被譽為「找尋日本固有良知」的攝影大師，當他開始踏入攝影界之初，他就花費相當多其他的時間以攝影去經驗他身邊的生活，不管是過去與現在、他的所處環境與情感，如果想要深入瞭解荒木經維，這本書是相當值得收藏的。書中不僅有他相當多精彩的經典攝影作品，也包括了詳細的生平與一些訪談紀錄，也介紹了他之前出版過的一些攝影專書的評價，書中可以看到荒木經維真實的一面，這些作品不僅有身處東京的生活、擄獲讀者童心的孩子嬉戲、也包括了一些具爭議的作品，包括枯萎與盛開的花系列與他癌症，美麗的女性的親密裸體，其中也紀念了他逝去妻子的作品。