The Dante Purgatory Project

The concept of Purgatory has as much resonance today as it did in the thirteenth century. References to it have constantly appeared in a modern context in television dramas, social media and video games, illustrating that people have an idea of what it feels like.

In Dante’s world it represented a time of transition, development and change. A time of waiting from which souls can ascend through trial and endeavour to a fulfilled and blissful outcome in Paradise. It is a time of potential improvement and redemption aided by acts of contrition and atonement.

Our project so far has included a two-day symposium and an on-going exhibition in the Cathedral cloisters which portrays Purgatory in a contemporary context through a variety of artistic media including painting, drawing, print making, sculpture, textiles, installations, ceramics, music, dance, poetry and sound.

During this time artists have created, video and sound pieces demonstrating their take on Purgatory now. A selection of these are being screened at Storyhouse. The programme will include works by The Purgatory Project film and audio session will include works by:

Jeremy Turner, Carmen Usategui, Cathedral poets, Paola Lopreiato, Ted Comer, Andrew Hooper, Kevin Furlong, Neuza Morais

Access Information: The lift to the cinema from Storyhouse’s entrance lobby is currently out of order. We’re working to get this fixed as soon as possible. There is not currently a step-free route to the cinema, the Book Pod, the Library Quiet Zone or the Library Meeting Room. In the mean time, if you’d prefer a route with fewer steps to the Cinema, Book Pod, Quiet Zone or Meeting Room, please take the Garret lift (from The Kitchen, next to the Ticket desk) to Floor 1 and walk along the mezzanine to the cinema – this route has seven steps.