The pandemonium of contemporary existence

“Pandemonium, the palace of Satan rises, suddenly built of the deep: the infernal peers there sit in council” – John Milton

John Milton’s Paradise Lost is English artist Key’s springboard for his current exhibition hosted by Arthall in Victoria, Gozo. The etymology of the word pandemonium, coined by the celebrated English poet, is an ‘assemblage’ of two words from Greek – ‘pan’ is translated as ‘all’, and ‘daemonium’ is translated as ‘evil spirit’, originating from ‘daimonion’ (inferior divine power originating from ‘daimon’ (lesser god). Pandemonium is the name of the palace of Satan, situated in the deep pits of hell.

Many centuries later, the term has acquired another meaning, and refers to general disorder that affects all the senses. It defines the time in which we are living, mayhem reigns supreme; turmoil and strife, population displacements, the pandemic and climate change have become important factors that contribute to this general global malaise that have wreaked havoc on a semblance of normal existence.

British artist Key

Normality has been replaced by a Sword of Damocles, precariously balanced on our collective heads. Indeed, the expression ‘hell on earth’ is...