I’m excited to finally share that this piece is complete! After three months of work, I can honestly say that it has been one of the most enjoyable projects I've ever done.
This drawing is deeply inspired by the poetic and surreal worlds created by Jules Verne in Journey to the Center of the Earth, Bruno Schulz in The Republic of Dreams, and G. Garfield Crimmins' Republic of Dreams. Each of these authors helped shape the poetic backdrop of The Republic of Utopia, which combines elements of their dreamlike narratives. It’s important to note that Schulz’s Republic of Dreams has a darker undertone, which influenced my own creation.
In The Republic of Utopia, I’ve mixed these authors’ visions with my own imprint. My villain, Ottomoon, is based on my father, similar to how Schulz portrays his father in his story. In my drawing, Ottomoon starts as a kind ruler, known for his love of nature and dance.
However, his life takes a tragic turn when his beloved wife, a lovely peasant, is bewitched by the god of greed. Her personality, incompatible with greed, causes her to fall into an eternal sleep, driving Ottomoon mad. Consumed by grief, he becomes a tyrant—much like a Savonarola figure—punishing anyone who dares to create art or express themselves freely.
