Argus Dorian: The Dark Cyberpunk Artist

Born under the communist regime of Poland in the picturesque town of Opole, Argus Dorian’s story is one of transformation and creative rebirth. Since 2017, he has worked with world-renowned photographers, professional models, and metal bands, marking the beginning of his spiritual and artistic awakening. With over 20 years of experience in graphic design, Photoshop, and Illustrator, Argus has woven his post-apocalyptic vision into his art, creating stories that reflect the world’s unstoppable and ongoing destruction.

At the heart of his work is the belief that humanity is heading toward an endless pit of catastrophe. We’re overloading the planet with garbage and toxic waste, creating new viruses just to observe them – and eventually releasing them into the world with no remorse. This ongoing cycle has inspired Argus to act, not just through his art but also through his personal efforts to create change.

His mission is clear: to awaken others through his creations and to fuel the Decaydead Nation movement. The name may be misunderstood, as many focus on the dark side of its meaning, but it represents more than just darkness. It’s a movement built on the raw power of creativity – disrupting, challenging, and calling for drastic change. Argus believes that pretty, acceptable art has never brought about real change. The Decaydead Nation sacrifices time, energy, and reputation to push the boundaries of expression, in hopes of igniting a real revolution.

Argus’s art is entirely self-made, rejecting the use of AI-generated content. He firmly believes that art must come from the soul and can only be fully appreciated by another soul. With his muse, Revna, Argus creates original characters – heroes and villains – while leaving it up to the viewer to decide who is who. In a world divided between the powerful elite and the impoverished, Argus stands firm in his belief that humanity’s survival depends on true leadership, not manipulation for the few.

Argus has also tackled one of humanity’s most pressing questions: Why does God allow such terrible things to happen? Through his art, he embodies the divine forces and their interactions with humankind, offering his interpretation of this age-old question.

Argus’s art has inspired countless other artists, urging them to “never give up on their dreams.” His message is simple: “Wake up before it’s too late.”

Argus’s journey began long before he became the artist known as Decaydead. As a child, his father introduced him to the brutal reality of the world through Pink Floyd’s The Wall, a pivotal moment that shattered his naive view of humanity. This early exposure to the darker side of life spurred him to question everything – and to dedicate his life to art.

When Argus was eight years old, he and his family moved from Poland to Greece, where he faced racism for the first time, particularly due to his lack of Greek language skills. Though isolated, Argus channeled this experience into his love of art, music, and poetry. He won competitions, gaining recognition at school, and by the time he was 10, his life was immersed in heavy metal and fine art. His admiration for Iron Maiden fueled his passion for drawing, and soon he was replicating album covers.

Despite dreams of enrolling in the School of Fine Arts, life took a different path. Instead, Argus studied art and graphic design, graduating with top honors and a scholarship. He soon found himself working in an advertising agency, creating photo manipulations for fashion magazines. However, when the financial crisis hit Greece in 2009, his career took a downturn. Argus’s art – dark and disturbing to some – was not accepted by mainstream Greek society. He was labeled a psychopath and a Satanist, and his work was rejected by clients.

With little choice, Argus was forced to keep his art private, though the desire to rebel and express his true vision never died. He found solace in the works of artists like HR Giger, Luis Royo, and Dave McKean, whose creativity inspired him to keep pushing forward, despite the adversity.

The death of Argus’s parents was a turning point in his life, adding layers of grief, loss, and personal transformation. It was in their passing that he realized the importance of eliminating toxicity from his life. From this revelation, he created his alter ego – the best version of himself. His art became not just a personal expression, but a mission to awaken others to the environmental crises and societal failures that plague the world.

Argus’s dark vision was born from his experiences, including his work with Greenpeace, where he was confronted with the harsh reality of pollution and environmental destruction. His first chapter, “Pollution,” depicts children wearing toxic masks, urging society to wake up. This evolved into “The Changing,” where human DNA begins to mutate due to pollution, transforming people into bloodthirsty beasts. The final chapter, “Hunters,” follows these mutated beings as they hunt and kill for sport in a dystopian, toxic world.

Argus’s work is not just about environmental destruction; it’s about the future of humanity, the extinction of species, and the horrors of unchecked experiments on both animals and people. But even in this dark world, there are glimmers of hope – the Assassins – whose role remains mysterious, challenging us to reflect on our own darkness.

In 2019, Argus teamed up with a follower named Johnny to take his story even further, writing a book that explores the collapse of the world, giving way to something darker and more disturbing. This collaboration proved eerily prophetic, as the global pandemic broke out shortly after, reflecting the very virus-driven themes in their work.

Though dark and unsettling, Argus’s art serves as a warning. It is a call to action, urging viewers to look beyond the surface, to see the chaos and the screams for help hidden beneath. His work, like his philosophy, is about seeing the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.

Thank you for being part of this journey. I hope you stay until the end of my story.

– Argus Dorian