INTERVIEW WITH ROMULO ROYO AT THE CENTRO DE HISTORIAS MUSEUM

Zaragoza can experience Las Lámpades, an immersive exhibition presented at the Centro de Historias Museum, one of the city's leading venues for art and cultural exhibitions.

In an interview for Zaragoza Audiovisual, artist Romulo Royo discusses the origins of the project and the tribute it pays to Francisco de Goya, joined by Juan Royo.

In the conversation, Romulo Royo discusses Las Lámpades, the nymphs of the Underworld who, according to mythology, carried the light of madness. Inspired by Francisco de Goya's etching ¡Miren que grabes! , Royo draws on this classical satire to explore resonances with his own vision of contemporary dystopian fantasy.

These mythological beings, said to "set reason ablaze," leave a lasting imprint on both artists, revealing an artistic vision that transcends time through the strength, expressionism, and striking presence of their figures.

LAS LAMPADES, Romulo Royo.

Oil on canvas, 195 x 290 cm (76.77 x 114.17 in)

The large-scale installation, (comprising 18 fabrics that translate the oil paintings into an immersive environment) was more than a tribute, it became a dialogue between different eras, where fantasy emerges as a structure of thought. Rather than simply observing the works suspended in space, visitors are invited to step inside the installation itself, allowing the images to overlap, reveal, or conceal one another according to their movement and interaction.

While Goya had already explored the power of fantasy in his work, Romulo Royo stands as a leading figure in a new wave of Fantasy Art within contemporary art. His work demonstrates how fantasy can become a powerful means of expressing the intangible and engaging with realities that photography alone cannot capture. The project is rooted in an understanding of fantasy not as a form of escapism, but as a historical mechanism for generating images, ideas, and artistic narratives.

In this interview, Romulo Royo offers a more intimate glimpse into his creative thinking, providing insight into his artistic process and a first-hand understanding of the tribute he pays to Francisco de Goya.