This project is an allegorical exploration of Dante’s Inferno, written in the early 14th century. Inferno is not just a journey through Hell; it is a reflection on sin, morality, and the consequences of human actions. Structured in nine concentric circles of suffering, each representing a different transgression with a corresponding punishment. Dante’s vision serves as both a theological framework and a meditation on the complexities of the human soul. I aim to portray the turbulence of the human mind:  its suffering, its contradictions, and its relentless search for meaning. Pain and pleasure, love and destruction, obsession and liberation—these opposing forces shape our existence. Love, in particular, with all its chaos and confusion, is at the heart of this exploration. It can feel almost too symbolic, too toxic, too entangled in dysfunction. Through this work, I seek to capture the raw intensity of human connection, its passion and torment, its beauty and despair. Beyond Dante’s Inferno, the project is shaped by literary and philosophical influences rooted in nihilism, absurdity, and surrealism. Beginning with Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment investigation behind “sin. ” I aim to explore the moral dilemmas, existential angst, and desperation that drive human actions. The project is further illuminated by Nietzche’s nihilism, reflecting on the ambiguity of morality and the consequences of a world without inherited belief systems. To affirm the contradiction of existence, the struggle between our search for purpose and the universe’s silence, Camus advocates for embracing the absurd and living authentically. Absurdity manifests in my exploration of love, suffering and existential dissonance. Finally, Freud’s Dream Analysis suggests that our dreams are the “royal road to the unconscious”  helping reveal repressed desires and unresolved conflicts. This is reflected in the surreal and symbolic nature of the imagery, where reality and subconscious thought blur together. This project is an introspective descent into the human psyche—a reflection of our deepest desires, fears, and contradictions. Through photography, I visually translate these universal themes, crafting a narrative that captures the fragility, intensity, and the absurdity of being human.

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Photographer and Director: Ingridi Viruel 

Lighting: Michael Glantzis

Production Assistants: Emilly Bessa, Bryan Costa, Leanne Baranzan

Make up: Victoria Borges

Models: Erica Sarda, Martha Eve Maruna, Dylan Blanco, Luca Grimone, Rylee Stumpf, Chris Straker, Esther Carlioz, Ethan Billups, Stephanie Babirak

​Special thanks to: Penumbra Foundation, Curtis Willocks, Mono No Aware