The fairytale-like images in Oltermai, the latest cycle of works by Lorenzo Mattotti (*1954), are populated by gloomy figures. The Italian artist takes visitors into an underworld where the fabulous god-like creatures – now animal, now man – seem to emerge out of the most concealed corners of his imagination. A little girl leads us through these large format works which are rendered in powerful brushstrokes. The seemingly mythological scenes follow one another at great speed. Sometimes mysterious creatures seem to support the filigree figure on her unknown mission, sometimes they seem to bode no good. Lorenzo Mattotti – known worldwide as one of today’s most important comic artists – enables stories to emerge where there are none. Star guest at this year’s Comix Festival Fumetto, Mattotti has made a name for himself over thepast twenty years thanks to his stylistically unique and highly colourful images. Oltremai is kept purely in black and white and is indicative of an exuberant expressiveness.