EX-VOTOS

What is an ex-voto?

The expression ex-voto comes from the Latin “ex voto suscepto”, which means “according to the vow made”.
Traditionally, an ex-voto is an object offered in thanks or in request for protection, often placed in a sacred place after the fulfillment of a vow.

Throughout the centuries, these small hearts, hands, flames or symbolic figures have taken on multiple forms: in metal, wax or wood, they were the reflection of a prayer, a hope, a gratitude.
They were hung on the walls of the chapels as so many testimonies of love, faith or gratitude.

Today, ex-votos go beyond the religious sphere.
They have become poetic, protective and decorative objects, bearers of history and sensitivity, chosen for what they evoke: an emotion, a memory, a personal wish.

In Petit Capharnaüm, I like to imagine them as small modern talismans, where the sacred meets art, gold embraces shadow, and every detail becomes a symbol.
An ex-voto is, above all, a message from the heart.