Pablo Auladell

I first encountered Auladell's version of Paradise Lost in an unlikely place: the underground exhibition space in the hilltop castle that sits at the center of Ljubljana, Slovenia. And yet it was somehow also appropriate; the gallery is in a space carved out of the rock foundations of the castle, and it was a perfect showcase for this strange and disturbing re-imagining of one of the strangest, most disturbing, and most influential poems in the English language. The exhibition included a show more variety of concept sketches but also some materials showing how some of the sequences had been reworked by Auladell (he initially illustrated only one of the books, and then completed the project years later when, as he notes, his style had changed and his skills had improved).

The depictions of some of the principle characters of the poem are unforgettable: Lucifer and Michael in particular. The image that stayed with me from the book is the way he chose to render the Lamb of God, traditionally a peaceful, hopeful image, here rendered as something terrifying. Like all good artists he is not simply illustrating, but interpreting, and the rather unexpected way he depicts God is provocative and may well offend a few people. I found it an imaginative take on ambiguities that are there in Milton's text. The volume includes sufficient instances of Milton's poem to allow you to appreciate his language (he often buries, to deliberate effect, the subject of a phrase in a way that would give grammar Nazis a coronary) but without overwhelming a reader to taking away from the visuals.

But one thing he does is beautifully capture the theatrical nature of Milton's poem, the numerous scenes where characters are watching others or watching events transpire beyond their control. The scene where God and his angels are watching Lucifer escape from hell and make his way to earth is one example. And the sequence, where Lucifer fights his way through chaos is one of the highlights of the book.

This is a book that will trouble your soul. . .in a good way! show less