Paradise Lost

The title Afflicted Powers, used in various manifestations by the group Retort, refers to an extract from Book 1 of the blank verse epic poem Paradise Lost, by English poet John Milton, first published in 1667. The installation by Retort for the Second International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville (BIACS 2, October 26, 2006 – January 15, 2007) included this fragment:

“And reassembling our afflicted Powers,
Consult how we may henceforth most offend
Our Enemy, our own loss how repair,
How overcome this dire Calamity,
What reinforcement we may gain from Hope,
If not what resolution from despare”.