Art in the Water – HR Giger and the Storchenbrunnen in Chur

The year 1979: Margaret Thatcher is the first woman to become British Prime Minister, the Soviet Union invades Afghanistan, and the film "Alien" premieres in cinemas. Ridley Scott's science fiction film is to have a lasting impact on pop culture.

At that time, the Storchenbrunnen (Stork Fountain) in Chur's old town had been babbling peacefully for over a century. The creator of the "Alien", the extraterrestrial creature from the film, knew this babbling well. HR Giger, born Hans Rudolf Giger (1940-2014), grew up on Storchengasse (Stork Lane).

In memory of HR Giger, the large water basin of the Storchenbrunnen was lined with 21 aluminium panels in 2021, featuring HR Giger's famous biomechanical patterns. And these panels show: HR Giger was not only the Oscar-winning creator of Alien but also a brilliant artist in general.