DANTE’S DIVINE COMEDY.

(2020-present)

This body of work follows in the footsteps of many great artists, but is particularly inspired by William Blake, Botticelli, and Robert Rauschenberg.

Burden stated, “The images were started at the beginning of the COVID-19 lock-down as a way of travelling in my imagination when physical travel was not possible. I originally considered the mathematics and formalism of Dante, so was completely surprised by his compelling visual imagery, spatial and conceptual logic and synthesis of the mythological, Christian, historical, poetic and scientific written in the vernacular dialect of Tuscany. Dante’s work takes Love poetry to a completely new level where anything can be integrated as long as it adheres to formal and conceptual logic of his defined Epic poem structure.

In popular culture of the late 20th Century the venacular love poetry/lyrics of “The Beatles” underwent a profound change as they moved from simple love songs to songs that integrated diverse content which at times bordered the surreal.

Dante’s ability to synthesize disparate motifs and identities, and allow them to have their own voice has had a profound influence of my working practice and artistic aims, which now permeates my work.