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Modern-Day Catholic Pilgrimages

For five years photographer Alys Tomlinson visited Catholic pilgrimage sites in Ballyvourney, Ireland, Mount Grabarka, Poland, and Lourdes, France. Ex-Voto, published by Gost Books, is the culmination of the work she created on this journey.

The book’s title refers to the physical offerings given in order to fulfill a vow – humble objects such as handmade wooden crosses and pages torn from notebooks – which connect the pilgrim with the landscape. The project is composed of black and white portraits of pilgrims, landscapes of the sites and still-lifes of the ex-voto objects, captured on large format film. “The images appear untethered from contemporary life and out of time, whilst evoking both the stillness and spirituality present at these sites of great contemplation,” writes the publisher in a statement.

The origins of pilgrim sites Ballyvourney, Mount Grabarka, and Lourdes go back to the 6th, the 13th, and the 19th centuries respectfully. Belief and faith in the narratives the sites embody draw modern-day believers, whose pilgrimage signals both their belonging to a community and an act of faith.

“It is a difficult undertaking, this visual divination of belief,” writes Sean O’Hagan in the book, adding, “It pays to spend time with these stark, mysterious images. They go to the very heart of things unseen.”

The publication of Ex-Voto coincides with three 2019 exhibitions: HackelBury Fine Art, London (March 7 – April 18), Chichester Cathedral (March 2 – April 23) and SIDE Gallery, Newcastle (April 6 – June 9).

Ex-Voto
By Alys Tomlinson
Gost Books

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