Alexander Tovborg | Paradise

Back in 2017, Tovborg initiated an ambitious print project based on a classic work of literature, and over the course of eight years, he found his way to the last print, which now concludes the series.

Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy from 1320 has been a close companion in Alexander Tovborg’s life and artistic practice. This late-medieval poem is considered one of the world’s greatest works of literature, describing the afterlife as a journey of the soul towards God. Centring himself as the protagonist, Dante’s journey begins in hell, goes through purgatory and culminates in a cosmic light filled paradise. 

In Tovborg’s Paradise, the final part of his epic print project, figures emerge into the light from the darkness of outer space. Tovborg has returned to the process he initiated with the Inferno series: by making prints inspired by each canto (verse) of Dante’s book. The motifs radiate from the black paper in delicate and evocative colours, reflecting Dante’s upward journey in space, detached from life on earth. With the same ease as Dante’s ascension into astronomical space, Tovborg depicts the souls Dante meets on his path towards God.

The Comedy is divided into three books: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. Inferno is an explicit rendition of the descent into Hell. Described as a voyage through nine downward circles. Purgatorio describes Dante’s upward journey on a mountain island, crossing the seven terraces of suffering and growth, corresponding to the seven deadly sins, culminating in Earthly Paradise at the top of the mountain. In the third book, Paradiso, Dante travels through paradise in space, guided by his great love, Beatrice. 

Tovborg’s Paradise portfolio of 33 etchings completes his print project for Dante’s Divine Comedy, which in total includes 92 prints. 

In 2025, Dante’s influential work will be retold by author Ditlev Tamm based on Tovborg’s etchings in a new book Den Guddommelige Komedie (in Danish). The publication provides new and contemporary perspectives on Dante Alighieri’s masterpiece and display all Tovborg’s 92 prints together in a single presentation.

Divine Comedy is the title of a major solo exhibition at ARoS opening on 24 May 2025. The exhibition presents a large selection of Alexander Tovborg’s work, including his print series.