ART COLLECTING
We have opted for this section dedicated to the collection of art thanks to the well-known and exemplary collectors Herb & Dorothy Vogel.
They were protagonist of numerous interviews and magazine covers in the 70’s and 80’s. Their popularity raised thanks to the documentary film Herb and Dorothy 50x50. Their greatest achievement is the collection of more than four thousand contemporary artworks that they have gathered over the years in their flat. She was as a librarian and he worked at a post office. Thorough their entire life they have been living proof that if you are a real art lover nothing can stop you from getting what you want, not even money. Nowadays their artworks are exhibited in different museums all over the USA.
This is a special story that we wanted to share with you as in Laberinto Gris we have experienced your intuition and great passion for the pieces that we have shown you and we are grateful to have felt this extraordinary and intense relationship between the painting and the collector.
So in order to share these experiences with each other, we have created this event where you can tell us your own story as an art lover!
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PASCAL JUNG, ART COLLECTOR
I have known the artist for years, probably at least 15 years. I bought lots of books from Luis Royo. It is a long time I wanted an original but I never had the money for it. I love those kind of realistic painting, it’ s not only for the nude girls but also for their beautiful faces, they look as angels. I also love the comparison between those beautiful innocent looking girls and the ugly monster they use to kill or to love.
The first original I bought was on an exhibition in Paris where I met Luis, but I don’t speak Spanish so our exchange was brief.
I’m happy to own these paintings so I can watch them all the time I want.
I am not really in direct relationship to other collectors but I surf the website 2dgalleries.com
My dream as a collector is to have a real nice realistic painting of Luis but unfortunately it is too expensive for me.
Pascal Jung
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RAÚL ORTEGA, ART COLLECTOR
Para mí es un placer compartir mis impresiones y la pasión por la fantasía.
Hace muchos años conocí su obra a través de la película “Heavy Metal” a la tierna edad 12 añitos. Mi tío Fernando trajo la película en formato Beta, antes del estreno, y no me preguntéis cómo. No era una copia pirata, era una copia de gran calidad.
Enseguida empecé a conocer la danza de todos aquellos personajes procedentes del cómic de “Heavy Metal” o “Metal Hurlant” aquí en Europa, en estas revistas trabajaban los grandes autores: Luis Royo, el desaparecido Alfonso Azpiri, Corben, Moebius, el añorado Juan Giménez … y que me perdonen los que me dejo que son muchos.
Tengo una réplica impresa exclusiva vuestra de “El Capitán Trueno”, cuando Víctor Ruíz me enseño en primicia la imagen, en aquella diapositiva el trabajo de Luis y Machuca, me froté los ojos, y pensaba: “no puede ser”, pues sí. Luis había resucitado al héroe español por excelencia como Trueno, y lo había puesto en el centro, con todos esos brillos y detalles que se saltaban de la imagen, esa bruma morada y ese cielo apocalíptico que rodea a sus enemigos, fue espectacular.
No tengo un Cristo, en la cabecera de mi cama está presidida por la portada de “Capitán Trueno”, porque me da energías, me ayuda a olvidar, y la miro cada día. Estas obras, tanto las de Luis como las de Alfonso, me recuerdan de donde vengo y quien fui, a no olvidarlo, para volver a serlo algún día.
Raúl Ortega
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VOLKER GALLANDI, ART COLLECTOR
I know the work of Luis Royo since the 80s, perhaps early 90s, buying some books. It was interesting to discover Fantasy Art, also Boris Vallejo, Frank Frazetta or the early Pin Up-Artists like Aslan, Vargas or Ramos.
Since the Late 90s I began to collect Original Art pieces. This year I rediscovered Luis Royo because I was searching Art for a new Concept of my Collection. I first found a sculpture “Poison Ivy“, later the 3 drawings I ordered at Laberinto Gris. After this “Medusas Gaze“.
I am not connected with other Collectors. My Concept got the name “Heroinas and other strong women“, it is a more erotic and modern Concept compared with the “Heroinas“-Exhibition at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. I draw a line from British and French Symbolists to Pop Art (Wesselmann, Ramos, Allan Jones and Walasse Ting) to Fantasy Artists to Hyperrealists like Carol Feuermann to Individuals like Dorothy Iannone.
My dream as a collector is an exhibition in a museum like in Darmstadt, the capital of Art Nouveau, giving the different Art Styles the same respect.
Volker Gallandi
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TAMARA, ART COLLECTOR
Tenía unos 13/14 años cuando vi por primera vez " The Announcement" y posteriormente "The Wait" mientras buscaba fotos de fantasy art por internet para poner de avatar en el messenger. De eso han pasado poco más de 20 años y nunca podré olvidar el impacto que causaron en mí esas dos imágenes. Con "The Wait" fue como transportarme a ese mundo, ni siquiera tenía que cerrar los ojos para verme allí dentro.
Ese fue el inicio de una incansable búsqueda de imágenes con las que forre toda una carpeta por dentro y por fuera y que aún guardo como un tesoro.
Pasaron varios años y gracias a mi primer novio que vivía en Barcelona (yo soy de Tarragona) y era conocedor de mi admiración por la obra de Luis, me llevó a la planta baja de Norma Editorial y allí me encontré cara a cara con el busto de "The Announcement", fue increíble, pero más increíble aún fue que para mi cumpleaños me regalase mi primera edición limitada, era la portada de "Evolution" a la que además agregó el colgante de la colección de joyería.
Con los años he ido añadiendo "The Gleam of Veela", "110 Katanas", "Luz in Irkalla", "Luz y los bosques de Zugarramurdi", "The Serpents Tongue", "Cover new remastered Malefic", "The Awakening", "Flowers and Thorns 5" y "New Taarna" en cuanto a ediciones limitadas además de varios de los libros.
Todavía no las tengo todas colgadas en casa porque necesito que tengan su espacio, ya que son muy especiales para mi, además que quiero hacerles yo misma un marco personalizado que les acompañe a la perfección.
Tamara
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ARI KOIVUNIEMI ART COLLECTOR
As a kid, in the 90s, I used to read Heavy Metal magazine. They featured Luis Royo's artwork on the cover on several occasions. I'm not 100% sure this is where I saw it first, but the magazine was the thing that introduced Royo's work to me. I would say his style was so recognizable that after a while I could tell it was his even without checking the credits. I may have bought some issues just because of the cover art.
About Romulo Royo, I'm not sure when I first heard of him, this could be in fact through Laberinto Gris.
I never actually bought Royo's art as posters even though those were available. Maybe wasn't into decorating my walls back then. But then, sometime in the 2010s I got into original art in general. It was some comic page from an artist that I liked and could afford that started it. Then I got into looking for more original art from my favorite artists. It was when I discovered Laberinto Gris when I found out there are pieces of art even I could afford.
I have few other drawings and paintings from both Luis and Romulo but the one above is the most important for me.
Ari Koivuniemi
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J. D. ART COLLECTOR
It is difficult to pinpoint precisely when it was that I became aware of the work of Luis Royo. Most likely I was exposed to him through the various covers of Heavy Metal, where his images became synonymous with the publication. Regardless of the origin, I have always found myself drawn in to his visions, pondering the details of the worlds and figures so masterfully shown. I am particularly interested in his displays of the end of society, of the apocalypse, and of the end of the reign of humans when slumbering beasts emerge to claim the spoils.
It was less than three years ago that I thought to search online for original works by Luis Royo. There had been sporadic illustrations and sketches sold on auction sites, but those were few and limited, leading me to believe that his works were rarely sold to the public. It was through Laberinto Gris that I found the doorway to obtaining these works. While prints are a wonderful way of viewing an artist's creation, nothing can substitute the sensation of seeing a work in person: the texture, the vibrant colors, the way light seems to exude from the paint itself. It is easy to feel oneself be drawn in to the frame as the work beckons you closer, closer...
I am fortunate enough to have several works in my collection, and most displayed on my walls.
J.D.
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RAMÓN, ART COLLECTOR
Hace mucho que me interesa su obra, y lo que me trasmite es esa mezcla de fuerza y erotismo propias de su arte. Es capaz de mantener la belleza femenina mientras emite una sensación de ferocidad y fuerza que impresionan. Es una combinación matadora.
En el caso de "originales" tengo dos, una de bocetos lineales y otra de un boceto terminado a lápiz y acuarela. Me hubiera gustado tener alguna de las terminadas completas... pero eso si que se queda mucho más allá de mi presupuesto.
Aún así es un sueño cumplido.
Ramón.
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JEAN-MICHAEL, ART COLLECTOR
WEEPING AND BLOOD
SKETCH MALEFIC TIME
I discovered the work of Luis Royo only a few years ago. First I am a collector of statues and replica from movies I love, like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, basically al kind of fantasy related subject.
I'm lucky enough to have 3 original work from Luis Royo now, the most important is Weeping and Blood from Malefic Time 110 Katanas and also 2 sketches.
Jean-Michel