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EX-VOTO
Curated by Hugh Mulholland featuring Lilibeth Cuenca, Tommaso Bonaventura,
John Angerson and selected Ex-Voto Paintings
6 February – 20 March 2009
Belfast Exposed is proud to present the first project in a new exhibition series, in which an external curator will be invited to develop an exhibition on behalf of Belfast Exposed. The first project is by Belfast-based Hugh Mulholland, Director of 'The Third Space' gallery and freelance curator.
In an increasingly secular world there is growing discomfort with religious belief, sometimes seen as outmoded and divisive, with those who give themselves over to it regarded as self-delusional. This exhibition brings together the work of three contemporary artists with a series of ex-voto paintings, dating from the mid 1800s to the present day. The works in the exhibition offer insights into the emotional and spiritual power of the mass Christian fundamentalist movement and sects such as the 'Jesus Army', as well as the individual acts of faith of those on personal pilgrimages and the simple offerings given in thanksgiving for a prayer answered. The blind faith of those depicted in the works acts as a counter to those such as Richard Dawkins, who proselytise against faith announcing, “I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world”.
Lilibeth Cuenca is interested in investigating the group versus the individual constellations in society and how the individual responds to social or religious rituals. Her film Holy Wood takes place on Easter Week in San Fernando Cutud in the Philippines. The main event in Cutud is on Holy Friday, when voluntaries crucify themselves. The striking images of the ritual are juxtaposed to a seemingly incongruent soundtrack inspired by the anti-religious lyrics of Marilyn Manson’s album, Holy Wood.
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