Ex Voto: when the artistic devotion meets the pietas for the Real

This word embeds everything, at a time where the bells have been ringing in different ways, depending on whether it is a man, a woman or a young. This word has been taking shape in the printed letters of the memories published on the newspapers by who’s left. This word would require a community, “faces”, “tears” and burning candles. But right now, this word is consumed in the intimacy of the family, sometimes all alone. A half mourning, just like the human faces which are represented quite “in passing” (author’s qte.) on the surface of the fiberglass hearts.

You might believe that this new artwork by Gianni Cella, Ex Voto, has been made on purpose. Just for “bringing back to the heart” the suffering of this nation, who is struggling for breathing. In a certain way, this is true; in another way the artwork goes beyond: the issue of “devotion” cuts across the poetics of the artist – who has just created many Ex votos in the past, and who conceived this last one a year ago, in tempore non suspecto.

Gianni Cella is telling us that the artistic devotion is devotion to Life, because you cannot do art if you are not touched deep down by the Real, if you do not cultivate the pietas, so dear to the Latins.

Therefore, in this “secular Sanctuary”, made of images, silence and personal suggestions, mercy is mandatory, since the Italian translation is “misericordia”, literally, “to have the heart full of pietas”.

Fabiola Chiara Colabraro
Press Office Gianni Cella