H.R. Giger No. 270: Mystery Illustration? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

AbercrombieOfRohan · 04-19-2008, 05:31 PM

I was rummaging through an postcard bin today in an old bookstore, when I came across a postcard with an illustration by H.R. Giger titled "Lord of the Rings II: No. 270" I've never seen this illustration in any of the books or even on any website, so I was curious if anyone knows anything about the history of it, or can explain what it is supposed to be... Is it just an abstract expressionist painting of the Lord of the Rings? Or is a very fantastical representation of Fangorn? Or Lothlorien? Just curious...

The illustration can be found here:
http://www.littlegiger.com/limited/items/270.html

Nerwen · 04-19-2008, 07:16 PM

It's concept art for an abandoned film project, "Alien vs LotR".

Legate of Amon Lanc · 04-21-2008, 10:39 AM

I am not sure about this one... I know some of his works, I was on his exhibition here a few years ago, and I know he did several landscapes (ahem, or something that was supposed to be such) of "Mordor" etc... this could be, possibly, one of them, but I can't say for sure, also as the picture is not very big, I don't seem to recall it - maybe if it were bigger... but as I know he has been doing more illustrations of the same, so maybe this is another of his "Mordors"? Not sure whether it won't be called "Mordor" itself... don't know.

AbercrombieOfRohan · 04-21-2008, 02:09 PM

I'm familiar with the Mordor painting that you are talking about, but no this is not one of them. On the postcard it just says, "No. 270 Lord of the Rings." I'm willing to take any suggestions/ interpretations about what you think it is. Crazy though they might be...

Mithalwen · 04-21-2008, 02:57 PM

Despite it's greeness I thinkit is just too scary for Fangorn - Minas Morgul would be my guess though you lose a lot of detail when you zoom..

Legate of Amon Lanc · 04-22-2008, 04:42 AM

Minas Morgul is also one thing I thought about, however I don't like the odd things in the middle down there. I also thought about some really nasty Amon Hen. Well, maybe Amon Lhaw then, as it was used by Mordor's scouts. Or what about these hills in front of Black Gate?

AbercrombieOfRohan · 04-24-2008, 06:09 PM

But then... it's so green... and (I suppose it's hard to tell from this small picture) it seems very mechanical. Almost like Star Wars or something. Down the sides are long pipes, so maybe it has something to do with Orthanc/ Saruman...

Oddwen · 04-24-2008, 10:44 PM

...could it be the fallen oliphaunt in Ithilien?

Probably not. There's a bigger picture here. (It's the green one.)

http://www.morpheusmuseum.com/contemp/giger/index.htm

McCaber · 04-25-2008, 12:20 AM

I found Lord of the Rings 1 here by simply typing "Lord of the Rings" into the search bar.

Both prints are in his book "Necronomicon." They seem to me to show no resemblance to the Tolkien novel other than the names themselves.

Rune Son of Bjarne · 04-25-2008, 05:02 AM

It is a quite interesting illustration and most of all it seem to represent a mood or a feeling, rather than some specific place.

However this could also be a pit of Saruman or as some has sugested a place in Fangorn. . . I hope that somebody knows the answer so that we will get pass this stage of speculation.

Eönwë · 04-25-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oddwen

...could it be the fallen oliphaunt in Ithilien?

I see what you mean.

Anyway, lots of Giger's work is mechanical based (In fact, all except one in Oddwen's link), so maybe thats just a style, and it could be something entirely different.

04-19-2008, 05:31 PM	#1
AbercrombieOfRohan Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 311	H.R. Giger No. 270: Mystery Illustration? I was rummaging through an postcard bin today in an old bookstore, when I came across a postcard with an illustration by H.R. Giger titled "Lord of the Rings II: No. 270" I've never seen this illustration in any of the books or even on any website, so I was curious if anyone knows anything about the history of it, or can explain what it is supposed to be... Is it just an abstract expressionist painting of the Lord of the Rings? Or is a very fantastical representation of Fangorn? Or Lothlorien? Just curious... The illustration can be found here: http://www.littlegiger.com/limited/items/270.html

04-19-2008, 07:16 PM	#2
Nerwen Wisest of the Noldor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ Posts: 6,694	It's concept art for an abandoned film project, "Alien vs LotR". __________________ "Even Nerwen wasn't evil in the beginning." –Elmo.

04-21-2008, 10:39 AM	#3
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	I am not sure about this one... I know some of his works, I was on his exhibition here a few years ago, and I know he did several landscapes (ahem, or something that was supposed to be such) of "Mordor" etc... this could be, possibly, one of them, but I can't say for sure, also as the picture is not very big, I don't seem to recall it - maybe if it were bigger... but as I know he has been doing more illustrations of the same, so maybe this is another of his "Mordors"? Not sure whether it won't be called "Mordor" itself... don't know. __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

04-21-2008, 02:57 PM	#5
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,458	Despite it's greeness I thinkit is just too scary for Fangorn - Minas Morgul would be my guess though you lose a lot of detail when you zoom.. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

04-22-2008, 04:42 AM	#6
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	Minas Morgul is also one thing I thought about, however I don't like the odd things in the middle down there. I also thought about some really nasty Amon Hen. Well, maybe Amon Lhaw then, as it was used by Mordor's scouts. Or what about these hills in front of Black Gate? __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

04-21-2008, 02:09 PM	#4
AbercrombieOfRohan Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 311	I'm familiar with the Mordor painting that you are talking about, but no this is not one of them. On the postcard it just says, "No. 270 Lord of the Rings." I'm willing to take any suggestions/ interpretations about what you think it is. Crazy though they might be...

04-24-2008, 06:09 PM	#7
AbercrombieOfRohan Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 311	But then... it's so green... and (I suppose it's hard to tell from this small picture) it seems very mechanical. Almost like Star Wars or something. Down the sides are long pipes, so maybe it has something to do with Orthanc/ Saruman...

04-24-2008, 10:44 PM	#8
Oddwen Drummer in the Deep Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Next Sunday A.D. Posts: 2,145	...could it be the fallen oliphaunt in Ithilien? Probably not. There's a bigger picture here. (It's the green one.) http://www.morpheusmuseum.com/contemp/giger/index.htm __________________ But all the while I sit and think of times there were before I listen for returning feet and voices at the door

04-25-2008, 12:20 AM	#9
McCaber Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Skyrim, again. Posts: 820	I found Lord of the Rings 1 here by simply typing "Lord of the Rings" into the search bar. Both prints are in his book "Necronomicon." They seem to me to show no resemblance to the Tolkien novel other than the names themselves. __________________ Werewolves vs. Fishmen. The battle of the century.