How I met with Ernst Fuchs and HR Giger

How I met with Ernst Fuchs and HR Giger

One of the most important part of my career was to met both with Prof.Ernst Fuchs (Founder of Fantastic-Realism) and Oscar awarded Surrealist artist  Hans Ruedi Giger (Designer of Alien movies).

Everything begins when the year was 2011. It was in the middle of winter when I heard famous film director Alejandro Jodorowsky was about to come in istanbul for if-istanbul events from my ex-girlfriend Rila Köksal. She always been a woman with wide-range of connections and has Jewish roots. She told me that she knew which show will feature his speech and about to make Q/A with the fans. And she got the tickets for the event as a gift for my upcoming birthday. So we go there together. The place was in Taksim which is one of the most known squares of istanbul. On the long Q/A section Jodorowsky talked about how he met with original members of Surrealism movement, his memories with both Salvador Dali and Andre Breton and what happened in his cancelled Dune movie project behind the stage and how it opens the way of Alien (1979) movie. After the Q/A, (thanks for Rila's french and spanish), I got the chance to talk with Jodorowsky in person, and showed him my Art-Catalogue which he was interested in and said that my artwork resembles with his one of the movies and also he saw resemblance my work with Giger's. So he said that he want to took the catalogue in his possession. After this event, soon we brokeup with my ex-girlfriend which brings me great sadness for several years. But also my luck in my career is about to change.

1 week after Jodorowsky contacted me with his official Facebook page and send me some names which he said that I should contact with them on social media. One of the names that he send was Otto Rapp. He is a great Surrealist artist and a good friend of Prof.Ernst Fuchs for long years. (and whom later he will become one of my good friend, supporter of my artworks, and coleague.)

So my friendship with Otto Rapp begin. He highly interested on my artworks and as a person. Later in 2012, Otto invited me to Vienna, there will be some events on there at Phantasten Museum and Bravda Gallery at Palais Palffy and also he wanted me to meet some of the Assistants of Prof.Ernst Fuchs such as Prof.Philip Rubinov-Jacobson. 

In Vienna, we met in Cafe Palffy together with Otto, Prof.Phil, Prof. Gerhard Habarta, Elfi Rauch and Erich Peischl. They all were good friends and assistants of Prof.Fuchs for long years. They invited me an exhibition opening at Phantasten Museum at the same night. There at the exhibitions of Othmar Richard Halek (whom I also met with him at Cafe Palffy) and his beloved wife Karin Halek at Bravda Gallery and the other "Mission Impossible" group Surrealist exhibition at Phantasten Museum, Otto also invited me into a private party in De Es Schwertberger's own Atelier (whom were also an assistant of Prof.Fuchs and well known Surrealist artist). 

At Schwertberger's party, I also met with Peter Gric, Emma Watkinson, Juergen Franz-Swart, Vesna Krasnec, Norbert Gladis (Steampunk artist and good friend of mine), Mantra Cora, Rose-Gabriel De La Lyre and Sabina Nore whom were well-known Surrealist artists. De Es's amazing artworks was every single corner of his atelier and also he was an amazing person. Prof.Phil and Otto were also there and later Prof.Fuchs himself arrived at the party. I got the chance to met with Prof.Fuchs. he highly interested on my artworks, asked questions about my works and said that he saw resemblance on my artworks with Giger. Asked me do I knew him.. I said no with an elegant gesture, and he said that I should met with him. He also said that he missed istanbul and the bosphorus. He also said that give his warmest greetings to both Erol Deneç and Hans Ruedi Giger. (Which later I successfully sended his greetings to both of them) And he also told me I have a great importance for Fantastic-Realism, that I should represent this movement internationaly as a Turk for my country. 

On the party we begin to become a very good friends with Otto, Prof.Phil and Peter Gric. (Also, I should add that amazing photos has been took by Peter Gric himself at the party. Whom is well-known Surrealist artist)

After the party I was able to met with late Robert Venosa's family (whom was a great Surrealist artist), his first wife (Jutta Venosa, whom were also an assistant of Prof.Fuchs) and his daughters (Celene Venosa and Amanda Brault). Venosa Family was good friends of Salvador Dali, Prof.Fuchs and Hans Ruedi Giger since 1970's. We talked them with their memories of both Salvador Dali and Hans Ruedi Giger. Later on that night, we go to some Vienna Night Clubs together with Amanda Brault and her partner Hannes Zita which he was also hospitable and friendly to me notably. 

Later on that week, I roamed in Vienna and visiting many interesting museums and rare places such as Kaisergruft, Headquarters of Teutonic Knights Order, Spanisch Hofreitschule and Arsenal Kaserne which I saw the Imperial Uhlan uniform of my Great-Grandfather Ekrem Recep Batra which designed for his duty as Rittmeister (Captain of Cavalry) in 2.Brandenburgisches Ulanen Regiment No:11 (Imperial Royal Prussian "Lancers" Cavalry Regiment) in Heeresgesischlisches Museum (aka HGM) years in between 1870's to the end of 1918. I was in shock, in the middle of Vienna, I found somethings about my beloved Great-grandfather. Special thanks to Otto Rapp and Jutta Venosa here. 

Later, I wanted to lost in Vienna and freely roaming as don't knowing where I going to. Strangely, I found myself at Vienna Academy of Fine-Arts (still don't know where I am), and roaming in it's corridors, found a small Gallery inside, and realise that this was an exhibition of Pre-Raphaelists for a short-period, it was open and I visited. Strangely, I forgot where it's exit and lost myself again in it's corridors, and found a small room, there I saw the original piece of Hieronymous Bosch's "The Last Judgement" It gave me the feeling that seems like this piece was strangely calling me from the very beginning of the day.

One year later, at 2013, thanks to Aline Berseth from Switzerland (whom is a talented Ceramic artist and is a friend of Giger), I got a special invitation for HR Giger Museum's 15th Anniversary celebrations in 21 June with luck. 

Going to HR Giger Museum was not easy task that one can achieve. The place was in Gruyeres (Switzerland), which builded around the walls of Castle of Gruyeres atop of a small mountain. There were no bus and no metro to go there. Only by train from small city of Bulle, or Taxi if you got support from your pockets. It was a small town that no pharmacy, no markets at there on the town, only Fondue restorants. At the very beginning, I met with Derek Storm in a small cafe whom were a photographer for some newspapers at that time and was a friend from Giger close circle. Derek told me the health problems of Giger nowadays (Brain Stroke) and said that no one is sure if he can able to come to the celebrations this time. At the same time with Giger Museum's celebrations there was also another celebrations for St.Patrick's day. Giant Fires conducted in the center of town and everyone dressed as Medieval knights, monks and witches. We hook with them for a while and go to Museum. 

Giger Museum was inside the inner walls of Castle. The Museum is at your right and the Giger Bar is on your left when you enter the Castle's inner gate.  The celebrations was already started when I arrived, and immediately Aline Berseth and his friends finded me. There I met with Tash Edwards, Jasmin Bilbeisi, Ian McRobert, Marco Witzig (Curator of Giger), Amina Ben, Stanislav "Stan" Krawczyk (Dark Artist), Dan Zahed (whom is a good friend of Tom Gabriel "Warrior" Fischer of Celtic Frost), Manfred van Zadelhoff, Kevin Wilson (whom is a Curator in USA) and Vincent Castiglia (whom is a student of HR Giger and Surrealist artist which uses blood in his artworks as a medium). They were all from Giger's circle and were a good friend of Giger for years. At the Giger Bar, I also met with Leslie Barany known as "Uncle Evil" (whom is Giger's agent in NY City). We drink some beer together with him and talked a little bit and joined his gang called "Giger Gang" for 4 years until some disagreements appears in between me and the gang's methods of how to deal with some issues that generally about many young talented aspiring artists that Giger once supported on his lifetime. I wished to never met with Les Barany later (after 2016), but this is not one of this article's subjects. 

Then we heard from the crowd that Giger is arriving in the Museum. I immediately left the Giger Bar, walked to Castle's entrance and wanted to saw him in person when he arrives. He arrives in his black Jaguar. Derek was right, Giger is hardly walks becouse of his health problems. His wife Carmen Giger was helping him while he walks. When he walks inside of his Museum, he was quite alone, and no one seems to guided him and I was near of him, so an instinct tells me that I should help him. He was near of Museum's stairs so I kindly asked him that if he wish my help? He shortly answered me "I need no help" It shows that he struggles to walk but he was challenging himself for walking. It comes from his will to hold his health in himself. So I respected his answer but also still continue to walk with him while he tries to go upstairs, if ever he needs help even he don't want to. When he finally reached the 2nd stairs, he stopped, turned to me, and asked my name. It was strange. I was surprised. I said my name and said that I was a Surrealist artist from istanbul. He asked me what I paint.. I have one of my small painting with me luckily, and I showed him, he takes the painting, looks closely, and immediately hold my hand, and said "Come here, we got to do something". He walked his museum's balcony and showed the painting to the crowd in his hands, and said "Please someone takes some photos" while we stand together there. I was shocked again, but never happier on my whole life. He liked my painting that much so he wanted to featuring me a little, and as a kind of small reward, he wanted to be in a photo of us together. One of his colleagues and his friend also a good Surrealist artist Ryszard Wojtynski took a photo of us with my camera. Sometimes one photo can speak silently. And this was such a photo. Giger was holding my painting in his bare hands to the cameras while we stand together. I immediately said that I would like to give my painting to him as a gift in an elegant manner. He smiled me as an answer. He looked from his balcony, and said to me that he always loves istanbul and the bosphorus. I have a duty that Prof.Ernst Fuchs gived me one year before. I tell him the greetings of Fuchs. He asked me how I know him.. I told how I met with him briefly. He smiled again. At the roof we also met with Bijan Aalam (whom is an art-collector of Giger that has Iranian roots and was a long friend of Giger)

Later, we go together in his office, his wife Carmen Giger was there too, we talked a little bit more. Carmen was so kind to me, told me "You are always welcome amongst us" After a quite more talk, Giger was tired and I think this was the time for me to leave them for a moment. 

After I visited Giger Museum's Store with recommendations of my good friends Derek Storm, Aline Berseth and Jasmin Bilbeisi, I get rare books of Giger suchs as Necronomicon-I and Necronomicon-II that rare to be found anywhere on the whole world. Then Derek comes to me and said to me Giger is ready to sign books at the roof of his Museum. So we go to top together and signed our books to Giger himself. (Those moments are recorded to cameras and later has been put to Dark Star - HR Giger's World movie documentary by Belinda Sallin in 2014. A good surprise for me indeed). 

Later, we talked a little bit more with Bijan Aalam and Peter Marvey on the same night after the dinner. 

Later on the night, Manfred van Zadelhoff comes and told me that there was After Party in Bulle City at the midnight. We go there together with Sandra Mivelaz's car and partying in the whole night together with Manfred van Zadelhoff, Gwen Spleen, Sandra Mivelaz, Fredz Florey at one of the Night Club. Huge Xenomorph standing at the stage and with lots of drinks:)) Later at the morning we returned to the Castle together. 

One day after, when the celebrations was over, I thinked that this is the right time for visiting the Giger Museum when not crowdy. Becouse I want to saw Giger's painting with concentration and great caution. His paintings were greatly inspired me on my artworks so I wanted to look them all with quite caution. It took me the whole day to look at every single piece at there. 

One day after, it was the time for visiting the Castle itself. I always wanted to see a Medieval Castle in my whole life, and I also heard that there is a small Surrealist art collection also exhibited in there at atop of the Castle such as John Howe (Designer of Lord of the Rings) he also greatly inspired from Castle Gruyeres too. It took me another whole day. 

One day after, we gather together one last time with Aline Berseth, Tash Edwards, Jasmin Bilbeisi, Amina Ben, Kevin Wilson, Stanislav Krawczyk and Vincent Castiglia at Giger Bar. Together with Aline, Tash, and Jasmin we drinked Facehugger Shot Drinks that every Giger fan should taste it for once in their life time. (I should add that Gwen Spleen, Sandra Mivelaz and the whole Museum's team was also greatly helpful and friendly to us there at the store.)

After passing years, we still be friends with most of them. And especially the circle of Prof.Ernst Fuchs greatly supported me on my art career. Exhibiting with them on the same group shows together across several countries of Europe. After the passing of Prof.Fuchs we still stay in contact together with them for long years. We participated together in "A Legacy of Light" Exhibition in a Memory of Ernst Fuchs at Castle Gloggnitz (Austria) curated by Prof.Philip Rubinov-Jacobson and "International Surrealism Now" exhibitions curated by Santiago Ribeiro across several countries of Europe such as Spain and Portugal. (Special thanks goes to Otto Rapp, Prof.Philip Rubinov-Jacobson, Jutta Venosa and Santiago Ribeiro.)

On 2018, my artworks has been featured in one of the respected magazines on international Surrealist art scene as known as Deviantly Surreal Magazine's 4th issue, thanks to my friend Ana Neamu from Romania.

On istanbul, we also gathered together with Erol Deneç in Istanbul as Otto suggested back in Vienna, and together we conducted exhibitions for Fantastic-Realism with many talented Turkish Surrealist artists such as Perihan Koca on Istanbul. 

My memories with Ernst Fuchs and HR Giger gives me another chance to be featured in a TV Show in Turkey as known as Multiplayer which hosting by Kerem Hünal in Dream TV channel on 2017. We talked about Fuchs, Giger and Giger's designs for Alien movie series, also Prometheus and Alien: Covenant movies together with him in a live footage. It was the time that Alien: Covenant movie was to be first released in theaters. Following year I was approached by Efe Tunçel whom asked me to become an Author in Nouvart Portal and the following years I was approached also by Murat Arda, whom asked me about Delikasap Rock Magazine for conducting Turkish articles about Surrealism, and as I am continue to make artworks in Surrealist and Biomechanical genre. 

So, that was the long story about how I met with Prof.Ernst Fuchs and HR Giger, and I'm actively making Surrealist artworks since 25 years and continously represent my country on international audiences with my artworks actively since 10 years. And I will continue to do so in a memory of Fuchs and Giger. 

Multiplayer show that features Alex Can Emed: https://youtu.be/GzlQHC-G0bk