Photography is entering a new stage in surrealism as a medium to communicate ideas and concepts rather than documentation. The Nine Circles of Heaven is a new series depicting the various levels of sin or nine circles, which include limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, aggression, fraud and treachery. Using a monochromatic pastel palette, artist duo Terrible Twins, take inspiration from Dante's Inferno. The surreal characters representing the nine levels are created by using props, sets and costumes. The visual imagery explores the representation of "nine levels of Hell not as sinful but as virtuous," according to the artists.
With an aim at mass culture, this series questions the authority of sin, when described as good and bad by Western civilization, including the Catholic society. This philosophical aspect has been a recurring theme in art that is seeing a revival with the young pop generation.
Occult Monochromatic Imagery
The Nine Circles of Heaven Series Explores Human Behavior
Trend Themes
1. Conceptual Photography - Opportunity for photographers to use the medium as a means of communicating ideas and concepts rather than traditional documentation.
2. Surrealism Resurgence - A renewed interest in surrealism as a form of artistic expression, pushing the boundaries of visual representation.
3. Reinterpreting Traditional Themes - Artists exploring and reimagining classic themes and concepts, such as sin and virtue, through contemporary lenses.
Industry Implications
1. Photography - Disruptive innovation opportunity in creating new ways to use photography as a storytelling and conceptual medium.
2. Art and Design - Potential for artists and designers to incorporate surrealistic elements into their work, expanding the possibilities for visual expression.
3. Pop Culture - Opportunity for the pop culture industry to embrace and promote the resurgence of surrealism in various forms of entertainment and media.