THE DARK VISIT - BOOK DARK LABYRINTH (LUIS ROYO)

BOOK DARK LABYRINTH (LUIS ROYO) Finally, with a big load of shadows that had landed inside, he said goodbye to his teacher. Seted up his own studio and began to paint fantastic and bright scenes. But gradually he entered into its own labyrinth and the deeper he went more darkness appeared in his paintings.He wanted to turn back and leave their infinite underground corridors, as Theseus did, but on this trip there is no wire attached to the ankle that leads to the exit. He eventually succumbed to darkness, coming dangerously close to the black that had no remedy. This incisive black that keep undressing us. Luis Royo= is a Spanish artist, born in Olalla (Teruel) in 1954. He has produced paintings for his own books and exhibitions, and his work is found in many different media: Videogames, Role Playing Games, CD covers for music, covers of novels, sculptures, Tarot cards, etc. He is best known for his sensual and dark images, almost apocalyptic, in worlds of fantasy with mechanical life forms. From 1972 he began painting pictures and expose them in various forums. In 1978 he began his career as a comic painter. A sample of these works are published in leading journals of the time Albums that compile this work are edited: Luis Royo (Rambla, 1985) Offset (Ikusager, 1986) Luis Royo Comics Anthology Volume 1 1979-1982 (Norma Editorial) and Luis Royo Comic Anthology Volume 2 1981-1983 (Norma Editorial). In 1983 he goes to illustration, where he will harvest his greatest successes. Hand by hand with the agency and publishing house Norma Editorial, his works are published in the international market. Among other countries he performed work for the U.S., UK, Sweden and book covers of the most prestigious publishers as Tor Books, Berkley Books, Avon, Warner Books, Batman Books and others. U.S. magazines often resort to Luis Royo art to illustrate their covers, Heavy Metal or National Lampoon, which are joined by other European magazines as Cimoc, Comic Art, Ere Compress, Total Metal and others. These will not be the only works done, he also performed covers of videos and video games. Since 1990 and once established in a strong position in the market of international illustration, the amount of own works extends to the detriment of the requests. Most of his free time work will be acquired by different media and published in their recopilations. In 1992 appears his first book, Women, this is a journey through different genres. In Spain it is edited by Norma Editorial, Editorial Soleil is in charge of publishing it in France and Editions Forum in Germany. Following this compilation, he held his first exhibition of originals. In 1993 Comic Images, launches a collection of Trading Cards with his artwork, entitled From Fantasy To Reality. In 1994 Malefic is published, with this book we discover an author, able not only to illustrate a world full of fantasy, but also to create a story, writing about the character who gives the book its title. Women reissued same year, in the U.S. Penthouse magazine makes an article about his illustrations. In 1995, new publishers are interested in the work of Luis Royo: Ballantine, Nal, Daw, Doubleday, Harper Paperbucks, Zebra, Hasa Corporation, Pocket Books for Star Trek series, Penthouse Comic or Fleer Ultra X-Men by Marvel. There are many new formats that appear this year, we can find the work of Luis Royo in different countries including Eastern Europe: calendars, posters, t-shirts, CD covers, mouse pads for computers, collections of Trading Cards with other authors, such as the Art of Heavy Metal, or single, his third collection of Trading Cards, The Best of Royo. In 1996, the work of Luis is the cover of American and German Penthouse, both devote a report inside. At the same time you can see various reports about his work in prestigious publications, among others, La Stampa in Italy, Airbrush Action in USA and Germany Penthouse Comix. In the same year he receives the Silver Award in the United States, Spectrum III, the best in contemporary, Fantastic Art Award. In 1996 sees the light the third album Secrets, in which the female figure and the magic is the protagonist in the mude of "Beauty and the Beast." A work that was published by NBM for English-speaking countries. This year, they release the Warm Winds portfolio, published by Norma Editorial, in collaboration with Heavy Metal. And an exhibition of his work in the show Phantasie Airbrush takes place. Frankfurt (Germany) In 1997, the interest of Heavy Metal by Luis Royo is reflected in multiple covers and calendars, as well as in their gallery, entirely dedicated to the Spanish author. This interest culminates with the order of the cover of the twentieth issue of the magazine and the series of illustrations about character F.A.A.K. (Julie Strain) by Kevin Eastman. The second portfolio III Millennium Memory is published. This year, Comic Images will release two new collections of Trading Cards, Royo Secrets Desires (fourth collection of the author) and Artistic Choices (together with other authors). To finish off the year Women and Malefic are edited in the U.S. and this last one is reprinted in Spain. In 1999 and coinciding with Barcelona's Comic Fair, a new album, Dreams, is presented. A recopilation of all ilustrations made by charge from the last ten years and published in different languages. This album highlights the versatility of the author to adapt to different styles and themes. Exposes in comic fair Viñetas desde o Atralntico. At the end of this year the author shows us another twist, more daring and honest than ever with the publication of the first volume of Prohibited Books, which surprises with an erotic theme that the myth of Beauty and the beast becomes genuine protagonist. A book published in luxury format (comic book size). In 2000 the third portfolio Tattoos is edited, along with other publications, posters, calendars and more. In this year, receives the Millennium Award at the Salone del Fumetto 7th Cartoo Mics. Milano (Italy). While making an exhibition of his work. In 2001 Evolution is published, on this album more personal works are combined with other custom made. In the album appears the study of character Malefic. Prohibited II hits the market, continuing the subject of the first volume. Heraclius Fournier edit poker cards with his artwork. And an exhibition of his work takes place in La Massana Comic, Andorra. Published in 2002, Conceptions I, a book that compiles the process and study of the drawings, it contains analyzes of alternatives before the final work. A collection of sketches and pencil drawings. Publication of the fourth portfolio Chains. This year, Luis Royo exhibits his work and recieves Fantasy Award "CTPAHHNK" Pilgrim in St. Petersburg (Russia). 2003 publication of Visions an album that combines custom with personal work, as in previous ocasions it is edited in several languages. Publication of the fifth portfolio Prohibited Sex. Second edition with new format of III Millennium Memory Portfolio. Publication Prohibited 3 closes this album cycle of Prohibited Book. At the end of this year the second album Conceptions II is published, featuring sketches and preliminary drawings accompanied by texts. In 2004 publication of Fantastic Art, will be the most important recopilation. Collects the most compleate collection of illustrations by the author. Published in two formats, the limited deluxe edition is a good example of the importance of this collection. The album hits the stores including a chest in this volume of Prohibited Sketchbook, sensuality and desire, free of color Prohibited Book in their initial states is shown. DarkHorse launches the first figure. Luis Royo comic Anthologie is published, in this volume are collected the stories created by the author from 1979-1982. Combining it with other work, dedicates four years to The Labyrinth Tarot, one of his most personal works. A tarot deck in which all pictures scrupulously maintain their hermetic symbols. Appears in two forms, an exclusive deck and a book with the same title, which includes all the illustrations with explanatory texts written by the author about the hidden meaning of each card and its power of interpretation. Conceptions III arrives in 2005, the third of his collection of sketches with case included. A new edition of Millennium III, and Japanese edition. Publication of the sixth portfolio Tattoo Piercing. Subversive Beauty album, full of images of sensuality and impregnated with provocation, walking towards the pursuit of personal and individualistic beauty in defiance of the established, and that helps in body piercing and tattoos ornament. With the luxury edition comes for the first time an ilustration sheet, a signed original. In 2006, coinciding with the 24th Comic de Barcelona, ​​Luis Royo is honored with an exhibition. At the same time two books are presented, Dark Labyrinth and other novelty, the start of a trilogy Wild Sketches 1, a collection of sketches in small format, common in the edition of the mangas. The second volume Wild Sketches 2 is published. The same year the second album Anthologie Luis Royo Comic appears. Same year he receives the award Unicorn Fantasy, VII International Week of Fantasy and Horror (Málaga). Marto company from Toledo launches a sword "The Black Elf" based on the book cover Fantastic Art. In 2007 an ambitious work performed in Moscow with Romulo Royo. The job of ceiling painting, a dome 24 meters in diameter, where more than 40 life-size female figures play with architecture and impossible to collect the leaks for classic themes of eroticism. This will result in a new publication, Dome. This year he exhibited in Fantastic Art, Seattle (USA) and Strychnin Gallery. N.Y. (USA) In 2008 Luis Royo ends the trilogy collection of wild sketches with Wild Sketches 3. In 2009 the album Dead Moon is published, a violent and romantic story that leads to the Apocalypse, a story with oriental flavor in a gothic and tragic world. Publication of the seventh portfolio Dead Moon. And an exhibition of originals from Dead Moon book takes place in the Manga Fair in Barcelona. Later this year Malefic New Remastered is published, this is one of the most charismatic books by Luis Royo, a new revised and enlarged version by the author with new images and sketches. In 2010 Dead Moon Epilogue goes out, an addition to the first book, which elaborates on the past of Luna, Marte and their families. The legend of how Louyang was formed, and how You and Chang families settled there. This book includes a CD with the process of making of the two books and a poster with The Game of Destiny. Publication of the eighth portfolio Dead Moon Epilogue. And editing of I Ching deck illustrated with images of Dead Moon. And exposition at Manga Fair of Madrid, with originals of Dead Moon and Dead Moon Epilogue. Also another traveling in Fnac. Yamato launches a collection of figures based on illustrations by Luis Royo. Publication of portfolio art Demons, Luis Royo & Romulo Royo. Deluxe edition with limited print number. Later this year Prohibited Book New Remastered is published, new edition collects all three volumes of the Prohibited Book series and Prohibited Sketchbook. Edition revised by the author and expanded with new images and sketches. In 2011, El Paso del Tiempo is published, a volume collecting comic stories made ​​by Luis Royo in 1982-1983 scripted by Antonio Altarriba. In 2011, begins the international multimedia project Malefic Time with Romulo Royo. Joined by different creatives. In 2011, El Paso del Tiempo was published, a volume that gathers comic stories made by Luis Royo in the years 1982-1983 with a script by Antonio Altarriba. In 2011, Romulo Royo started the international multimedia project Malefic Time. Adding to it different creatives. In December 2011, the first album of the project "Malefic Time, Apocalypse" was published. In 2012, part of the work Malefic Time, Apocalypse is exhibited at the International Contemporary Art Fair, ARCO'12 Madrid. This same year in the gallery Miguel Marcos of Barcelona an exhibition with work of Dead Moon and Malefic Yamato USA launches a collection of Malefic figures on the market. At the same time that the novel written by Jesús B. Vilches "Malefic, Codex Apocalypse" is released. And from the same series, the manga "Soum". In 2013, again, exhibition of Malefic Time, Apocalypse at the International Contemporary Art Fair, ARCO'13 Madrid. In 2013, the German edition of Malefic Time Apocalypse was presented in Frankfurt, coinciding with an exhibition at the Schwalbe 54 gallery. This same year, Nocturna Models launches the Malefic Time miniatures collection. In 2014, Malefic is published, 110 Katanas, the 2nd album of the Malefic trilogy. This year, the "Full Moon" Role Game of Malefic Time is published. While it is exhibited in Paris, in the Huberty-Breyne gallery, it is the work of the Dead Moon and Malefic Time projects. In this year, he makes the illustrations for the book "The Ice Dragon" by George R.R. Martin. And begins a new project for Yamato, developing illustrations of super-heroes of DC Comic for market launch in collectible figures. In 2015, auctions of his work are carried out at Sotheby's and Christie's. At the time, he attends as a guest artist at the international fair of Comic Con, San Diego, USA. UU and receives there the "Inkpot Award for Achievement in Comic Arts". This year an exhibition is also held at the Champaka gallery in Brussels, with a retrospective character. In 2016, Malefic Time, Akelarre, the latest book of the Malefic trilogy, is released. And the role play of the same project "Tiempos del Irkalla" is published In this year, he attends the fair "La Mole Comic Con" Mexico. And in Italy at the Lucca Comic & Games fair and its new limited edition and graphic work collections are shown. In 2017, he attends New York Comic-Con and his new limited edition and graphic work collections are shown by Laberinto Gris. Luis Royo was born in 1954 in Olalla, a small village in Teruel, Spain. As a child, he moved to Zaragoza where he studied technical design, painting, and interior design. By 1972 he began painting, exposing his art to new forum. In 1978 he became a comic artist and soon triumphed internationally. Samples of his work appeared in some of the most important magazines of the time and were later compiled into the following books: Luis Royo (Rambla, 1985) and Desfase (Ikusager, 1986). In 1983 he moved onto illustrations, were he produced his greatest achievements. He achieves this success with the help of Norma, his publisher and editor that distributes his work to the entire world. In 1992 his first book, Women, appears, followed by Malefic (1994), Secrets (1996), III Millennium (1998), Dreams (1999), Prohibited Book 1 (1999), Evolution (2001), Prohibited Book 2 (2001, Conceptions I (2002), Visions (2003), Prohibited Book 3 (2003) and Conceptions II (2003). Along with these titles, six collectors cards series were released, five collectors portfolios, posters, and a tarot card set called The Black Tarot. The increasing popularity of Royo´s images allowed for the publication of postcards, calendars, playing cards, t-shirts, album covers, video games, mouse pads, and even sculpture. With such a wide range of products, Royo has become an authentic cultural phenomenon. His books have gone through numerous editions and have been translated into French, English, Italian, Russian, and Portuguese. Magazines like Stampa, Airbrush-Action, and Penthouse have dedicated entire articles to him. Festivals, art galleries, and specialty stores continuously organize expositions honoring his work. He has received the Spectrum Silver Award (United States), Cartoomics (Italy), and the Pilgrim Prize (Russia), amongst many others. The success of Royo is due largely to the originality of his work, which has broken through traditional barriers and revolutionized the world of illustration. He has a keen interest in fantasy themes, though he experiments with other themes like the western, historic epics, and romance. Setting aside his themes, his innovative style breathes power while radiating a fragile, almost mystic transparency. Royo´s treatment of the human figure, especially his women, endows the body with a soulful brilliance. His use of color, from the most saturated gamma to the most despoiled gray is contrasted with an intense touch of chrome, creating an aura of fascination that invites us to enter his world. Despite the consistent use of certain elements, Royo´s style reflects a clear evolution. When reviewing his work chronologically, one can see a refinement in his style and the reinforcement of his theme, as each composition becomes even more poetic and graceful. The apparent simplicity of his drawings is deceptive, allowing for a complex plot and a range of artistic options. His permanence on the front lines in the world of illustration and his increasing success is the result of his constant, subtle, and effective experimentation. Royo has made the myth of “beauty and the beast” his principal theme, effortlessly moving from horror to the lyrical. Whatever the theme, his characters waltz effortlessly between epic and erotic. The subject´s flesh is overlaid with a defiant and threatening tone, marking them more exciting. As Royo knows all too well, when the dark ghost of death looms over the hero, the suggestion of sex becomes more intense. When studying his characters, one notices that he places the subject on the border of tragedy, where they can shine more brilliantly. Their frozen position anticipates a destiny as attractive as it is cruel. Clutching their weapon, they await the next attack. Their intensity and the tautness of their muscles make them even more beautiful and dramatic. In the blink of an eye they can disappear, having been devoured by the danger that encircles them. But the immediate future doesn´t interest Royo. He portrays that penultimate moment, when the inner soul of the hero is revealed.