"I fought all my life to ensure that comics are recognized as an art form, it’s a vision that endures and that must transcend the passage of time.When I realised that the new possibilities of the digital realm were a way to communicate with younger generations and share the savage and untamed universe of my comics and creations, I felt immediately compelled to embark on this new adventure. It is the continuation of what I have done during my whole career."
Philippe DRUILLET
Beyond his contributions to comics and illustration, Philippe Druillet has also explored other artistic disciplines, including painting, sculpture, and animation, demonstrating versatility and innovation across various creative mediums. He also started in the 1980's to incorporate digital technologies in his creative process.
In 1986 for the production of the final chapter of Salammbo, Philippe experimented a new method for creating images, involving a composite technique combining electronic and analog image processing (developed by Technology artwork, a French company), resulting in very high resolution effects and textures, brilliance and saturation of color. This technology is largely out of date today, but in 1986, it was the first attempt to integrate computer-generated imagery into comic books !!!
After directing the first film featuring computerized graphics in France: Kazhann, starring his emblematic character Sloane (1987), Philippe produced William Sheller's excalibur video for Phonogram in 1989 (35 mm and Computer graphics imagery), which won best clip award at the Fantastic Arts Festival Gerardmer, mixing again analog and animated computerized technology.
After designing and directing the video game RING (Cryo Interactive - 1998), inspired by the Ring cycle from Richard Wagner, selling 450,000 copies of the game in 47 countries, Philippe embarked on a journey in 3D production, directing two video games, including one inspired by his trilogy Salammbo, and a TV series inspired by his other comic Nosferatu in 2002.
In 2014, for the prestigious festival of classical music in Orange (Chorégies d'Orange - France) Philippe produced a video projection on the walls of the antique theater for the concert of ‘Carmina Burana’. He renewed the experience in 2016 for ‘Requiem’ by Verdi at the Chorégies d'Orange in collaboration with COSMO AV (a creative studio specialized in video mapping).
Welcome to Philippe Druillet's world.
Philippe’s world combines science fiction, fantasy, and mythology, creating visually striking compositions that challenge conventional notions of reality.
His epic and monumental scenes, featuring vast cityscapes, towering structures, and sprawling landscapes that convey a sense of scale and grandiosity, also incorporate psychedelic elements such as swirling patterns, kaleidoscopic colors, and surreal distortitions.
His compositions endure as mesmerizing and mind-bending visuals that evoke altered states of consciousness.
Philippe is recognized for his significant contributions to comics, particularly in the realm of graphic storytelling and sequential art. His iconic series, such as "Lone Sloane" and "The Night" have influenced generations of artists and writers with their innovative narrative structures and avant-garde aesthetics.
The baroque aesthetic of his illustrations, with ornate designs, elaborate patterns, and a rich color palette, evoke a sense of grandeur and opulence.
George Lucas, George Miller, Ridley Scott or Denis Villeneuve are among the movie directors influenced by Philippe, partly because of his cinematic approach, using dynamic angles, dramatic lighting, and cinematic framing techniques to imbue his illustrations with a sense of movement and narrative tension.