Influences: “I am often asked if Giger was an influence. I haven't looked at his work since my late teens.”1
While Ken does not perceive H.R.Giger to be much of an influence, at least not a recent one, there is no denying one can easily see the similarities between the two designers.
Gigers' work is of a far darker nature, often with underlining themes that explore the corruption of human nature. While Gigers' work is considered perverse in nature by many, it is this lack of censoring his creations that provoke people to look closer. Ken also has many hidden meanings behind his images, incorporating his own fears and insecurities into his images.2 This is why when I look at Kens' his humanoid figures within these designs, they are twisted or sitting in distorted, often uncomfortable positions…show more content… Ken however largely appears to be inspired by the now, these new industries of CGI and digital games provide hours of concepts, some of which never see the light of day. Therefore it is pleasing to hear him speak about designers such as Brian Froud, a man that I essentially know from his work on Labyrinth.5
At first when I began to research Brian Froud I believe I knew very little of his work however a quick google search reviled his glorious faeries which I know so well.
While Ken sees the man as one of many influential designers, I can certainly detect a fragment of it in his work. Predominantly in his humanoid figures, I can see the the organic, vine conforming nature featured in their hair.
Looking at the faeries hair (Figure 3) which takes on the appearance as the branches of a tree, crowning the central figures shape, we can make a comparison to Kens work (Figure 4). The twisting nature of Kens' characters hair is reminiscent of many of Frouds little people. Much of Kens' work features figures with long rolling layers of hair like growth which ties into his organic style of
