Trip-Tychon 1970

H.R. Giger created this work, Trip-Tychon, using airbrush on paper. The artwork presents a biomechanical entity. The symbols present are futuristic and technological, yet also evoke ancient, almost primeval feelings of terror and awe. Consider the recurring motif of the serpent, appearing as tubes and organic extensions. Throughout history, the serpent has symbolized both chaos and renewal. We see it in the Garden of Eden and entwined around the staff of Asclepius. In Giger’s vision, the serpent merges with technology, reflecting a subconscious fear of the unknown and a fascination with transformation. The mechanical components intertwined with organic forms create a jarring effect, tapping into our collective anxiety about technology's encroachment on nature. This fusion evokes powerful emotions, revealing our deepest fears and desires about the future. Just as the serpent sheds its skin, cultures shed old beliefs and adopt new ones, yet the underlying fears remain, resurfacing in new forms. Giger captures this cyclical progression.