Monika Beisner’s illustrations of Dante’s Divina Commedia will be exhibited at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura from 23 April till 8 May. Here the artist talks to Erika Brincat….
Please tell us something about your background and your connection with Malta.
I studied art in Germany and received grants to study in England and New York, where I had my first children’s book published. I’ve had quite a lot of children’s books published internationally including collected stories, fables about star constellations, and fabulous animals. Now I live primarily in London and visit Gozo twice a year.
How many illustrations have you made for Dante’s Divina Commedia? My work on Dante started in 1992 and it took me seven years to do all 100 images for each of the 100 Cantos. I was inspired by Malta for Purgatorio as it is an island in the sea with no trees, lots of rocks and a particular light which reminded me of Mount Purgatory. There are 34 Cantos for Inferno, 33 for Purgatorio and 33 for Paradiso, and I am one of the few artists to have illustrated the whole book. The book was first written 700 years ago and it consists of a wonderful manuscript with illuminations. My favourite illustrator is Giovanni Di Paolo with his interpretation of Paradiso, and his way of painting influenced me very much.
Mr Livio Ambrogio has published a LUX edition of all three volumes, of which there are only 250 copies, in Verona by Valdonega, a very famous firm who have been printers for over 100 years. It has been translated in English by Professor Hollander and Jean Hollander. There is also a German translation published by Saber und Saber in Leipzig. The Hollander’s translation into English is wonderful. The introduction by Roberto Benigni is found in both the Italian and English versions. There is also an introduction by the cultural historian and Dante expert Marina Warner at the end of the Paradiso in the English and Italian versions.
Does one have to know Dante’s book inside out in order to be inspired for such work? No I don’t think so. I’m not a Dante scholar myself but I am fascinated with his journey from Darkness to Light, his world view and the fact that he manages to include a system of the whole universe in one book.
Do you think that Dante’s Divina Commedia still has significant relevance to man’s journey on earth in the modern world? Yes. The book encompasses the whole of humanity – it has philosophy, theology, everything! Dante as a poet is very visual. Especially the way he describes what he sees in hell and the inner states of these sinners, like The Adulterers – who he depicts in a whirlwind; The Proud who have to carry heavy stones on their back; or The Envious who have their eyes shut with little wires. Even if you are not a Christian believer, the book is very convincing! I find it ingenuous that someone could think in such imagery. He tells us about the experience he goes through which in a way is the journey we all do. What Roberto Benigni does is fantastic as it is easier to listen to somebody reciting Dante than to read the whole book – he has made it more accessible, and I hope my pictures will also help people in a similar way. Dante is still relevant today because he describes aspects of life which don’t change.
Does your own vision of heaven and hell coincide with Dante’s? Yes, according to Dante, Man is very egocentric and the earth is at the centre of the Universe. Outside of the Universe there is an Imperium where God lives – the White Light. In the end Dante has a vision of God which he says is impossible to describe and yet he tries to describe it. I wanted to illustrate the whole book because it is a spiritual journey which ends in Beauty and Goodness.
The book launch will be held on Friday 25 April at the IIC in Valletta at 6.30pm.