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The Exvotos | Ceramicists
At their atmospheric studio in Seville, artists Daniel Maldonado and Luciano Galán are reviving the traditional craft of Moorish and Mexican-tinged ceramic heads, often emblazoned with hearts. Their name, The Exvotos, stems from the votive candles placed on altars and is entwined with their shared passion for religious iconography and symbolism. Having both worked on churches and convents, the pair’s flair for translating traditional catholic motifs onto playful, whimsical and emotive creations has garnered them a devoted following around the world.
How did you begin?
We are small town boys, born and raised in two villages in the Seville countryside, quiet but very dynamic villages. Our families were not related to the world of fine arts, but Daniel's family has dedicated themselves to the world of cinema. He grew up surrounded by production and exhibitions as they were also owners of the local theatre with all the movement and creativity that brought.
We met because of a creative grant that was awarded to us when we finished our studies in Venice and Lisbon. We returned to Seville to a meeting of all the scholarship holders and fate brought us together there. It was love at first sight, we sat down to talk and when we got up from our seats four hours had passed, it was truly magical to find the person who feels like you and to know it so soon.
A month after that magical night, we suggested setting up a studio-workshop where each of us could develop our art and craft, but we quickly began to get involved in each other's work until we decided that we should create an entity that would encompass both of us and represent us, and so The Exvotos was born.
How did you learn?
We both completed formal training at the Seville School of Arts, Luciano in wood and stone carving and Daniel in ceramics. In addition to our formal training, we learned the trade in professional workshops where we worked as apprentices. We also took specialized courses in different subjects such as clay, wood, restoration and training in the arts. We also learnt a lot while restoring the handcrafted ceiling of a convent in the city of Utrera and the tiles of Seville’s Santa Paula convent.
How do you plan, prepare and create?
Our sources of inspiration are religion, nature, theatre, painting, music and history. From this inspiration arise the objects, paintings and sculptures that we firstly plan on a small scale. We then correct errors in dimensions and measurements and transform them to the appropriate size, before choosing the colour palette.
From here, we study the production of that piece in an artisanal fashion, because that is what we love. The materials used are organic, clay, wood, paper or fabric together with ancient techniques and our intention is to create pieces with a traditional flavour but with a fresh and new artistic air.
Who or what most influences your work?
Beauty for beauty's sake, sincerity and the feeling that art will save the world.
What does a typical day look like?
Our daily life is centred on work, everything revolves around it as if it were a baby that needs to be taken care of. We are lucky to live and work in the same building, so going to work is going down the stairs! Our profession is vocational and passionate, it is a kind of commitment to art, hence the word "profession" from professing which means "to defend or follow an idea or a doctrine".
An object you cherish?
We appreciate objects, all objects! We cannot say that we have a preference for anything in particular. We do have a preference for beauty, so any object that reflects it is preferred!
Words by Cosmo Brockway
Images by The Exvotos
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