An ex-voto is a votive offering to a saint or a divinity, given in fulfillment of a vow (hence the Latin term, short for “ex voto suscepto” or “from the vow made”) or in gratitude or devotion. The term is usually restricted to Christian religion. Ex-votos are placed in a church or chapel where the worshiper seeks grace or wishes to give thanks. The destinations of pilgrimages often include shrines decorated with ex-votos. They can take a wide variety of forms, and are not only intended for the invocated, but also as a testimony to later visitors of the received help. As such they may include texts explaining a miracle attributed to the helper.
In this piece I turn to the image of the very first photography I took when I was a child (a self-portrait of my arm) and I elevate it to the category of religious icon, to ask for the miracle of inspiration to create art while demons of laziness watch. From the walls hang more photos taken by me. This work alludes to the artist trapped in his ego, when turned into his own creative reference, keeps repeating him or herself.
“Having become seriously ill due to a terrible lack of inspiration to create works of art, I entrusted myself to this image to chase away the demons, this being the first photograph that I took when I was just a child, the creative light returning to me, and in thanksgiving I dedicate this altarpiece to him”.
