Exhibition 2014- Heaven and Hell at the Espacio Gallery

'Inferno'. Pen and ink drawing currently on show at the Espacio Gallery Heaven & Hell exhibition.

159 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 7DG

The natural curiosity of what happens after death has been explored extensively throughout art and literature and I focused on illustrating the themes of hell depicted in Dante's Divine Comedy. 'Inferno' shows elements envisaged in the first part of Dante's epic poem which describes the 9 circles of hell. It's created in the style of a Vanita which throughout history have been produced to remind the viewer of the fragility of life and death. Vanitas are symbolic works of art whereby a skull shape is formed by objects and shapes often associated with reminders of vanity, mortality and the brevity of earthly life.

Detail showing 'uncommitted souls'. Part of new drawing for Heaven & Hell exhibition at Espacio Gallery Jan 2014

In Dante's Inferno, the 'uncommitted souls' (those who were neither good nor bad or those who didn't take sides in the Rebellion of Angels) lurk at the entrance to hell while maggots feed on their blood and tears.