"He listens but does not hear, sees and yet is blind, knows and yet is ignorant."
C.G. Jung, Man and His Symbols

The word limbo originates from the Latin limbus, meaning “edge,” “border,” or “threshold.” Dante Alighieri uses this term in the Divine Comedy to describe the First Circle of Hell—the outermost rim of the infernal abyss. Here dwell the souls without sin who, though blameless, are denied salvation and suspended in a state of eternal waiting. They suffer no physical torment, yet live in a perpetual yearning to behold God, sighing without end.

In this exhibition, limbo becomes synonymous with the unconscious—that realm of mental activity operating beyond the threshold of awareness. The unconscious is a hidden psychic dimension, the dwelling place of thoughts, emotions, instinctual impulses, images, and behavioral patterns that deeply influence human actions while remaining outside the control of consciousness. It is an enigmatic and potent space from which dreams, fears, and emotions arise, shaping our experience of reality. According to Carl Gustav Jung, although we may not be consciously aware of what resides in the unconscious, we can still connect with it—especially through images, dream analysis, and profound meditative states. The unconscious often conceals our deepest fears, and throughout history, many artists have grappled with their inner monsters. One need only recall Francisco Goya’s The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters.

Art is one of the most powerful expressions of the unconscious—a universal language that allows us to explore what lies beyond the flesh and physical limitations. In this sense, the Divine Comedy itself can be seen as a metaphor for an inner journey that begins in darkness and horror, ultimately arriving at the light. To engage with our shadows, to visualize and give them form, is in essence an act of accepting the hidden self—that unconscious part of us we often refuse to acknowledge. Limbo thus presents itself as an in-between space, a threshold where the soul is compelled to confront its most profound essence. It is a place where certainty dissolves, rational truths collapse, and the mind reveals its full complexity.

This is the terrain explored by three contemporary artists—Anguanatatu, Cromorte, and Giovanna Morando—who, each with a distinct style, delve into this ambiguous realm through a shared, invisible thread.

Anguanatatu (Veronica Merlo), with her strongly surreal aesthetic, invites us into a dreamlike universe steeped in symbols and mystical suggestions. Her work draws inspiration from Freud’s interpretation of dreams, revealing a deep connection to the unconscious and to a mythic, fairytale-like imagination. Her hypnotic landscapes, wrapped in shades of blue and black, evoke a world suspended between dream and reality, where Nature assumes a sacred, spiritual role. The enigmatic faces in her works, reminiscent of ritual masks, conjure a sense of mystery and communion with the afterlife, guiding viewers on an introspective journey between the visible and the invisible.

Cromorte (Michael Cromarty) transforms the dream world into a psychedelic, vibrant realm—playful and irreverent at times. His bold, unpredictable figures, rendered in vivid hues, recall an underground visual culture inspired by 1930s cartoon aesthetics. With subtle irony and a psychedelic language, Cromorte toys with horror and deformity, subverting the unconscious’s darkest fears and turning them into dynamic, lively visions. His artistic exploration blurs the line between dream and nightmare, beauty and unease, encouraging the viewer to confront their most deeply buried emotions.

Giovanna Morando examines the relationship between self and world through a figurative language that is both powerful and visceral, drawing from Surrealism, Op Art, 1960s graphic design, Symbolism, and Japanese art. The female figure, a recurring presence in her work, becomes a mirror of inner experience, revealing an intimate layer of the soul. Her surreal landscapes and seemingly calm atmospheres envelop the viewer in a silence rich with meaning, evoking contrasting emotions. Intense colors strike a delicate balance between tranquility and emotional tension, guiding us into a state of reflection and contemplation.

The works of these three artists stand as portals to other dimensions. Each vision becomes a step toward understanding a disturbing beauty where mystery and wonder intertwine—pushing the viewer to cross the thresholds of perception and confront the vastness of the unconscious. Limbus – Mystic Thresholds is not merely an invitation to explore these boundaries; it is a challenge to embrace our most profound emotions on a journey that, though endless, draws us ever closer to our inner truth.

Curated by
Francesca Brunello