Medusa's Gaze
Yamato USA
Web: http://www.yamatotoysusa.com/
Dare you gaze upon
the face of Medusa?
Medusa’s Gaze is an astounding work of fantasy art
by Luis Royo as interpreted by master sculptor Shungo Yazawa. It is the second
piece in Yamato USA’s Fantasy Figure Gallery and offers exquisite detail and
attention getting presentation. It comes on its own stand and is some 11.80”
tall - quite a conversation piece. The combination of a leading European erotic
fantasy artist with a superb Asian sculptor has created a work of stunning
beauty.
Luis Royo was born in 1954 in Olalla, Spain. He studied painting, interior design and
decoration and in 1972 began to show his work in various exhibitions, at this
early stage his style had a strong social focus. In 1978 on
discovering adult comics in the work of such artists as Enki Bilal and Moebius
he began to draw comic strips for various magazines and exhibited in the
Angoulême Comic Fair in 1980. In 1981 and 1982, his work was published in works
such as "Comix International", the "Rambla", "El
Vibora" and "Heavy Metal". In 1983 he began to create
illustrations which featured dark, strong yet highly eroticized images of women,
these were featured by a diverse range of publishers such as "Tor
Books", "Berkley", "Avon", "Warner" and
others. These brought him major success and worldwide attention.
In 1992 his first book was published, Women,
followed by Malefic (1994), Secrets (1996), III Millenium (1998), Dreams (1999),
Prohibited Book (1999), Evolution (2001), Prohibition Book 2 (2001),
Conceptions I (2002), Visions (2003), Prohibited Book 3 (2003), Conceptions II
(2003), Prohibited Sketchbook (2004), Fantastic Art (2004), The Labyrinth Tarot
(2004), and Conceptions III (2005). To
these titles we must add the publication various series of collector
cards, portfolios, posters, and Tarot
cards - The Black Tarot and The Labyrinth Tarot. The last is an esoteric
sequence of cards based on the ancient tradition combined with a book. All the
illustrations together with explanatory texts were written by Roto himself
including his own personal take on the occult meaning of each card. Tarot card
decks have proved fascinating to fantasy artists H.R. Giger having produced
sets similar decks.
Royo was also featured in a wide range of major
illustration and comic magazines including the influential Heavy Metal. His
work has also crossed mediums and is now featured on everything from calendars
to postcards.
Yamato USA has expanded the presentation of his
work into sculpture with the Medusa’s Gaze. The first thing you notice about
this work is its groundbreaking quality. It has been made in resin quality PVC
and hence offers incredible detail at a reasonable price. The detailed paintwork
is inspired and she stands firmly on the base looking both beautiful and proud.
The sword slots carefully into her hand giving the figure an even more
“realistic” pose. There are so many details which grab your attention from her
hair to the various weapons she is carrying. This is a truly masterful
collectible. Medusa’s Gaze is packaged in a collector's style window box.
This review will appear in Volume 2 No.4
(2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.
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