Geoffrey Bouillot

Installation views, Geoffrey Bouillot: Sottomondo, ELIGERE Seoul, July 14 – August 3, 2023. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE. Photo: Heesoo Park

The “Sottomondo” exhibition features a path to follow both physically and metaphorically. Visitors will be guided through the various circles of hell presented, with artworks and scenes representing each circle. This physical journey allows visitors to follow the story and discover the different themes addressed in Dante’s Divine Comedy.

At the same time, the exhibition’s path can be considered a metaphorical journey, representing an inner journey through the different facets of the human soul. Visitors are invited to reflect on their own identity and place in the world by discovering the characters and scenes presented throughout the exhibition.

By following this physical and metaphorical path, visitors can discover new perspectives on their own inner life and personal journey.

Image: Geoffrey Bouillot, Midway Upon the Journey of Our Life, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 60 x 73 cm. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE.

1. Midway Upon the Journey of Our Life

These are the first words of Dante before entering Hell. These words mark the beginning of his journey in the middle of his life, where he finds himself lost and confused. This work is also the very first painting in the exhibition, welcoming visitors. It serves as an introduction to the exhibition, setting the tone for Dante’s journey through the afterlife.

Installation views, Geoffrey Bouillot: Sottomondo, ELIGERE Seoul, July 14 – August 3, 2023. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE. Photo: Heesoo Park

2.  Dante’s Contemplation

Dante is captivated by his own thoughts, immersed in deep introspection. He invites the viewer to join him in his reflection, to contemplate the importance of self-examination and the search for meaning in life.

Image: Geoffrey Bouillot, The Guidance of Virgil, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 81 cm. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE.

3. The Guidance of Virgil

Virgil is shown writing, immersed in his task with intense concentration. This representation highlights the central place of Virgil in Dante’s work, as it is he who guides the poet through the various stages of his journey. Virgil reminds us of the importance of writing in the transmission of knowledge and wisdom.

Installation views, Geoffrey Bouillot: Sottomondo, ELIGERE Seoul, July 14 – August 3, 2023. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE. Photo: Heesoo Park

4. Deep Thinking

1) Limbo: reserved for souls who have not received baptism and who, without being guilty of sin, cannot access Paradise. The first circle of Hell, or Limbo, is an important stage in the exhibition. Here, the three great Greek philosophers, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, are waiting together in Limbo. This representation emphasizes the importance of these great thinkers in the search for truth and the quest for self-identity. Their presence in Limbo is a way of showing their place in the history of humanity. This idea allows the exhibition to begin by addressing the theme of the search for self-identity.

Image: Geoffrey Bouillot, Judge of the Damned, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 162 x 130 cm. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE.

5. Judge of the Damned

2) Lust: reserved for souls who have been dominated by the passion of the flesh. Minos is the judge of Hell, responsible for determining the circle of Hell in which each soul will be punished according to their sins. He is described as an imposing and fearsome being, capable of detecting the lies and deceptions of souls who come before him. His role in Hell is crucial to maintaining order and justice in the afterlife. Minos is represented as a normal-looking figure rather than bestial, to remind us that human nature can be complex and that it is important not to judge people based on their appearance. This representation emphasizes the importance of not judging people based on their appearance, but rather taking the time to get to know them and understand their story. In this way, the exhibition highlights the search for self-identity and others, a central theme of the Divine Comedy.

Installation views, Geoffrey Bouillot: Sottomondo, ELIGERE Seoul, July 14 – August 3, 2023. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE. Photo: Heesoo Park

6. Guardian of the Underworld

3) Gluttony: reserved for souls who have been dominated by appetite and excessive consumption of food, drink, etc. The third circle of Dante’s Hell represents the place of punishment for gluttons, who are subjected to a storm of hail, snow, and mud. Due to this incessant storm, they cannot communicate with each other. Cerberus, the three-headed dog who guards the entrance to this circle, is represented in this part of the exhibition to show the ferocious and frightening aspect of this place. In addition to being an emblematic figure of Dante’s Hell, Cerberus also represents surveillance and guardianship, thus symbolizing the punitive nature of this place. Its representation with three heads symbolizes the three types of gluttony: binge eating, overeating, and excessive desire for food.

Installation views, Geoffrey Bouillot: Sottomondo, ELIGERE Seoul, July 14 – August 3, 2023. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE. Photo: Heesoo Park

Installation views, Geoffrey Bouillot: Sottomondo, ELIGERE Seoul, July 14 – August 3, 2023. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE. Photo: Heesoo Park

7. Midas’ Reflection

4) Greed: meant for souls that have been dominated by the love of money and greed. The character of Midas, the king of Phrygia, is depicted in this exhibit. He is shown looking at his hand, thus recalling his divine punishment for his fault of wanting everything to be turned into gold. This representation symbolizes greed and excessive desire for wealth, which can lead to self-loss and ruin. It highlights the disastrous consequences that the pursuit of wealth and power can have on an individual’s personality and life. This representation seeks to show how the choices we make in our life can influence our identity and destiny.

Image: Geoffrey Bouillot, The Burning Fury of Phlegyas, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 73 x 60 cm. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE.

Image: Geoffrey Bouillot, The Burning Fury of Phlegyas, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 73 x 60 cm. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE.

8. The Burning Fury of Phlegyas

5) Anger and Sloth: meant for souls that have been dominated by anger, violence, sadness, or laziness. In this representation, Phlegyas, the guardian of the lake of fire, is prominently featured in close-up. With a flame in each eye and flames in the background, this mythological figure literally seems incandescent with anger and rage. According to Greek mythology, Phlegyas was angry because King Ixion had seduced his daughter. To get revenge, Phlegyas then set fire to Ixion’s palace, where he was also a guest. This impious act had provoked the anger of the gods, who had then condemned Phlegyas to be punished in Dante’s Inferno for eternity. His punishment consists of being immersed in a lake of fire, with flames burning his eyes, symbolizing the anger and rage that led him to his downfall. Thus, Phlegyas is a striking example of how anger can lead to destruction and punishment, and how it is important to control one’s emotions to avoid causing damage to oneself and others.

Image: Geoffrey Bouillot, Hey You, Who are You?, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 60 x 73 cm. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE.

9. Hey You, Who are You?

In the Divine Comedy, characters are not easily identifiable as they are often covered in mud or are mere shadows. The question “Hey you, who are you” is asked several times in the poem, representing a deep questioning of one’s own identity. This work invites the viewer to reflect on their own life, identity, and destination. It reminds us that each of us is constantly evolving in our own journey, and encourages us to step back and reflect on who we are and where we are going.

Image: Geoffrey Bouillot, The Eyes of Galileo, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 116 x 89 cm. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE.

10. The Eyes of Galileo

6) Heresy: reserved for souls who have professed beliefs contrary to Christian doctrine. The sixth circle of Dante’s Inferno is a place where heretics are punished by being locked in fiery tombs. Galileo, a famous scientist of his time, was accused of heresy for his heliocentric theory that challenged the Catholic theology of the time. In this light, a portrait of Galileo looking at the moon with an early telescope represents his quest for scientific truth, which led him to his heretical beliefs and condemnation. The black moon symbolizes the darkness of the tombs in which heretics are locked up, while the different black background symbolizes the difference between scientific truth and theology.

Installation views, Geoffrey Bouillot: Sottomondo, ELIGERE Seoul, July 14 – August 3, 2023. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE. Photo: Heesoo Park

11. Confronting the Minotaur

7) Violence: for souls who have shown violence. The painting depicted in the seventh circle explores the duality of human nature. The portrait of the Minotaur, who is lounging, highlights this duality. The artwork examines themes of internal struggle between primal instincts and the desire for comfort and peace, as well as the search for balance between these two aspects of oneself.

Image: Geoffrey Bouillot, Medusa, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 73 x 60 cm. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE.

Image: Geoffrey Bouillot, Medusa, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 73 x 60 cm. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE.

12. Medusa

8) Deceit: for souls who have committed acts of deceit, fraud, and betrayal. Medusa is a symbol commonly associated with deceit and betrayal, two themes that are explored in the eighth circle of the exhibition. The petrifying gaze of the mythological figure represents how lies and deceit can immobilize a person, preventing them from moving forward in life. This painting encourages visitors to be aware and cautious of manipulation, and to seek truth to avoid being blocked in their own lives.

Installation views, Geoffrey Bouillot: Sottomondo, ELIGERE Seoul, July 14 – August 3, 2023. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE. Photo: Heesoo Park

13. Conspiracy and Consequence

9) Betrayal: for souls who have betrayed their country, family, friends, or lord. The ninth circle of the exhibition is representative of betrayal and features an artwork in the form of a portrait of Brutus and Cassius plotting. This painting highlights the complexity of human relationships and the devastating impact of betrayal on those around us. It also emphasizes the fragility of trust and how easily it can be broken. By examining this artwork, visitors are invited to reflect on the consequences of their choices and the values they choose to uphold. This painting reminds us of the importance of trust, honesty, and integrity to maintain healthy and lasting relationships, whether they are personal or professional.

Installation views, Geoffrey Bouillot: Sottomondo, ELIGERE Seoul, July 14 – August 3, 2023. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE. Photo: Heesoo Park

14. Fallen Majesty

The visitor reaches the deepest part of the exhibition: a majestic painting depicting Lucifer residing in the deepest part of hell. The representation of Lucifer in this painting is described as having three heads: a human head, a lion head, and a bull head. Each head symbolizes a different aspect of human nature. The human head represents the intellectual part, the ability to think and reason. The lion head symbolizes the emotional part of human nature, strength, and pride. Finally, the bull head symbolizes the instinctive and physical part of human nature, brute strength and passion. Lucifer is considered the perversion of the mind, will, and passions, and has tried to corrupt these three aspects of human nature. By contemplating this painting, the visitor is invited to reflect on the deepest part of their own personality. The three heads of Lucifer represent the darkest forces that reside in each of us and can lead us into an infernal cycle of destruction. This artwork is therefore much more than a simple representation of the devil, it is an invitation to introspection and reflection on our own nature and our ability to confront our inner demons. It also reminds us of the importance of resilience and willpower to overcome the obstacles that stand in our way.

Image: Geoffrey Bouillot, And then We Emerged to See the Stars Again, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 60 x 73 cm. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE.

15. And then We Emerged to See the Stars Again

The final artwork of the exhibition represents Dante’s emergence from the afterlife and back into the world of the living. The artwork serves as a reminder that even though life can be difficult and confusing, there is always hope for renewal and a new beginning.

Image: Geoffrey Bouillot, Conspiracy and Consequence, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 162 x 130 cm. Artwork © Geoffrey Bouillot. Courtesy of the Artist and ELIGERE.

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