Career
He has collaborated with director Werner Herzog on a number of projects. Among his many collaborations with other film, theatre and opera directors, Gierke is most notable as a painter. With Werner Herzog
Gierke collaborated with Herzog on seven films and several operas.
He was Production Designer during The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, Nosferatu the Vampyre and Fitzcarraldo.
As a Secretariat Decorator he worked on Heart of Glass and Woyzeck, as Stage Designer on operas: Lohengrin and Giovanna d"Arco and as Costume Designer on film The Transformation of the World Into Music. Gierke shot additional still photographs on Stroszek "s set.
He appeared twice in Herzog"s film The Transformation of the World Into Music as himself and in Herzog"s television realisation of opera Giovanna d"Arco.