Art direction- presentation on Dante's inferno

'Ooh....Intense!'

Howdy Folks

Last Month, our critical studies lecturers tasked us with the opportunity to create PowerPoints based on a study of a particular artwork(s) from films, TV, video games and art. We would subsequently present these presentations to our lecturers and class mates.

As far as public speaking presentations go, I have always thought I could do a decent job of them, due to my charismatic personality. However, when hearing we would be presenting in the large lecture hall, I certainly grew edgy.

I chose to base my presentation around the art style of the 2010 video game Dante's inferno. Similarly, in this blog I will be focusing on the art of Ash Huang, the lead concept artist of the video game. Mainly how he interpreted extracts from the poem into designs in the game. Furthermore, I looked at the symbolism that can be drawn from Huang's art in the game.

Firstly, Dante's Inferno is a video game developed by ‘Visceral Games’. The game was developed from a poem called 'The Divine Comedy’ by Italian poet Dante Alighieri in the 14th century. The poem accounts Alighieri’s experiences of transcending through the 9 circles of hell, led by Roman poet Virgil. The game takes an interesting spin on Alighieri’s works. For instance, the 9 circles of hell in the poem, limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery are all levels in the game.

Re- imagining Italian literature, roughly 700 years old is by no means easy yet Huang presents you with very vast, elaborate concepts of the circles of hell.  There is a particular impressionist style about his works which is…impressive. Even looking at Dante’s design (main character) you can tell he had been tainted by the effects of hell. This is expressed with his gaunt completion, not to mentions his sins in the form of a cross-shaped leather cloth, sown to his chest (ouch).

Although Alighieri’s work was the main focal point of the game, it can be argued that the game also takes inspiration from the art of Boticelli, William Bougerau and Auguste Rodin with his famous piece ‘The Gates of Hell’ a 20 feet high sculpture which actually features in the game’s first level. All of these artists took inspiration from Alighieri’s “The Inferno” poem and subsequently their work features in the game.

Rodin's-The Gates of He

Boticelli- the 9 circles of Hell

The works of artist H.R.Giger

Each circle is presented with a unique atmosphere and shape. For instance, in the circle of lust all edicts are phallus shaped, the lesions in these edicts are carvings of orgy scenes ( this sight was reminiscent of the works of Swiss surreal artist H.R. Giger, who is renowned for his works on human and machine interconnected relationship, which he deemed “biomechanical”, “his paintings often display fetishistic sexual imagery”). All of the above combined with the overall regal colour pallet are all symbols we would associate with sensuality.

In contrast, in the circle of greed you are presented with a very bright and colourful scene of gold coated machinery. There is grandness about the level, yet you are exposed to witness scenes of suffering, such as the damned being boiled in a pit of molten gold. One of the enemies you face is a body shared between two damned souls, one soul is notorious for squandering his wealth and the other is damned for hoarding his wealth, I thought this concept was very interesting. Summing up, I believe all the images you experience in this circle of hell are reflective of the negative effects of the industrial revolution. 

As you can see from the image, Huang has used flesh-like colours for the circle of gluttony. The level can be described as one large stomach or as a developer put it “a bile infested, disgusting area….the belly of the beast”.

The circle of anger and wrath is portrayed with very hot colours, matched with the various signs of fire and flames a potential symbol of human rage.

The last circle of hell, the circle of treachery is frozen over. This is an interesting concept, to some degree unexpected as well; it contrasts the biblical impressions of hell. Huang has designed the level with a dark and cold pallet, most fitting as the circle is where the worst reside for their acts against humanity and against God.

All of the images are graphic, the game is hell and Huang does a brilliant job of conveying it.  He does this with scenes of woe, disarray and turmoil. Examples of this are, the damned drowning in a pool of blood, or being grinded by machinery and many more, all of which are very disturbing. These disturbing scenes are a reason for why I believe the game’s art also challenges  societal conventions, perhaps through his art, Huang is expressing the consequences of a life filled with vice.

The City of Dis

However, despite how good the artwork concepts of the game are, you are not able to explore all of it as I would have liked to. You seem to be led through hell on a leash, only able to take momentary glances of the designs due to the intense story. Despite my thoughts the level designs follow well in accordance to the story and each step of the gameplay does seem in chronological order, thus I cannot really complain.

The various moods and themes in the game appear to reflect human nature- numerously representing the gothic, for instance the concept of desire is expressed in lust, gluttony and greed. Furthermore the Freudian concept of the sublime ‘awe and terror inspired by nature’ are explored in anger, wrath and heresy. Lastly the gothic symbol of the uncanny or “heimlich” and “unheimlich” (familiar and unfamiliar as Freud put it), are expressed in the circles of limbo and treachery.

All in all, In light of the minor issue with exploration, looking deeper into the game I believe the graphic nature of Huang’s art in the game,  are a question to societal convention and reminder of the consequences of vice much like expressed by Alighieri’s poems. This is why the game is a piece of art because of its meaning. It is certainly one of the top designed games I’ve ever played with an epic story and gameplay worthy of your attention. I urge you to play it.

Thank you for reading,

NOW GO TO HELL!!!