H R Giger, H P Lovecraft & Cthulhu

One of SH R Gigers influences was the horror writer H P Lovecraft. Lovecraft was virtually unknown during his life time, but will go down in history as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.

"The call of Cthulhu" is his most famous work. In the story a man tells his psychiatrist of a key he receives from his dead uncle. The key unlocks a collection of papers that document his uncles life long obsession with an under water deity called "Cthulhu". Cthulhu is met in the story through dreams and art work. the deity is trapped in a stone city beneath the ocean. Cthulhu once ruled earth and he will do again.

An earth quake pushed part of the city to the surface but Cthulhu did not awaken.But he was able to make contact with the minds of particularly creative or insane people. The rational minded seem to be insulated from the influence of Cthulhu.

Lovecraft died on the 15th of March 1937 aged 46.

I find the idea of an occult figure influencing the mentally ill and artists as an interesting metaphysical concept.