Edward Gorey
Born in 1925, Gorey created a legacy of theatrical art and illustrations. He is associated with award winning Broadway Plays and one of my favorite books "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats." Style and flare combined with a sinister aspect leaves the world of children books and enters Commercial Limelight.
This sinister, playful, macabre tendency and androgynous aspects of his work made him successful in theater and created fondness by Goths. The offbeat humor in "the Gashlycrumb Tinies" is an excellent example of why he is loved throughout the world. The skeletal nanny looks perplexed and concerned by an awkward, drained group of children in his or her care.
Though most well known as an illustrator he won a Tony for designing costumes for Broadway's "Dracula." Designing sets and costumes is how he made a living as a professional artist. I love how the simple lines and texture create a deep personal connection in this drawing. Though cartoonish, it reaches a level of fine art in the manipulation of the monochromatic palette, line direction, shading and fine detail.
H. R. Giger
Giger was born in Churn, Switzerland on February 1940. He won an Oscar in 1980 for the dark and lifelike sculptures featured in "Alien." Bringing horror to life he studied architecture and industrial design at Zurich's School of Applied Arts.
This unique artistry, as seen in "Sil Tryptich," helped shape a preference for dark surrealism. The lines are clean with an illuminating quality making the characters relatable. The essence seems touchable providing additional horror to the subject.
As an interior designer he created the Harkonnen Capo Chair; wherein, science fiction and human physiology are interwoven. Aesthetically pleasing shapes of ribs, skulls and a spine are combined into a comfortable chair.
Currently he is making a medieval castle into a museum. The H. R. Giger Museum is in Gruyere, Switzerland. Exhibits, shops, tours, and tarot feature artwork from upcoming and existing supernatural artists. A portion of the museum is dedicated to his own artwork.
If ever wondering what makes Goth aesthetics unique, look at Giger's artwork. It is applied throughout all levels of Goth Culture: illuminating qualities in movies; preference for leather; fascination with human physiology; balanced supernatural beings, and graphically driven characters in anime.
