Title: III Millennium
Artist: Luis Royo (Spain, 1954- )
Medium: Paint-Acrylic
Source: “III Millennium” by Luis Royo
Description:
The painting describes in the century of 3000, when civilization has ended, one surviving human girl is being protected by her robot lover. With torn cloths covering the body, they are enduring the harshness of this cold, dark future.
Color of this painting is not bright, it reflects the gloom of this lost future; yet the facial expression and motion of the two characters is quite vivid. They are suffering, and they have strong will and each other’s arms.
Analysis:
With the far scene on the lower left indicates that the world is ruins of barren land, and the darkness above shows the sunlight has dimmed.
The abstract images of faces on the torn canvas expresses the horror and despair of humanity, even art, the creative part in the souls of human here and now has simplified into graffiti of lines.
The basic tone of the image is cold, with florescent lights, giving the feeling of dreams.
This is dark and cold world. And 2 main figures holding tightly, they have nothing left except for each other. The tear of the woman is also cold with pare reflection on it. Even her robot lover shows the expression of helpness. But something in their eyes shows that they are strong and unbowed, even in the world like this, they endure.
Interpretation:
As the art master of Sci-fi and Magic illustrations, Luis Royo has not only remarkable painting skills, but also possesses outstanding imaginations. “III Millennium” of 1998 is not just an album of artworks, and also a science fiction novel of images.
Royo has expressed his strong eschatology in this work. In the future, war has ended the civilization as we know today, these former cities has turned into ruins and ashes. Those who survived are obsessed with desperation, hope seems lost in the history. Royo even gives the outlook for the humanity in the era. The robot lover in the picture portrays the possibility of how and what would have human evolved. It, or he, clearly shows intelligence, mixed with technology, even the feeling of love.
Royo tried to add some erotic elements in this album, but slightly and obscure. Yet not very intense compare to his later works, especially “Prohibited Book”.
His work about female figures are absolute soft with beauty, this has become the symbol of Luis Royo, and also one of the main reasons why people would love his arts.
Judgment:
This is a master piece of art.
Royo clearly knew what he was trying to express and he succeeded.
The desperation of the atmosphere works, the mechanical character indicates the age. And ruins behind them shows this is after the end. The blur description of sex in “III Millennium” shows that love exists still, and that’s what human should hold on to, that could be the hope in this cold world.
Reference:
“Evolution” by Luis Royo
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=605141&GSub=93964
http://www.douban.com/group/topic/10409028/
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