Guadalupe

Ever since she appeared to a simple labourer, Juan Diego, in Mexico in 1513, the Virgin of Guadalupe has been adored by pilgrims in Mexico and throughout the world. The cult-like following the Virgin enjoys was fuelled when Pope John Paul II canonised Juan Diego in 2002.
Guadalupe is a visual celebration of both the spiritual and more commercial aspects of the adoration of Mexico's Virgin. This colourful publication features every aspect of the passion felt for Guadalupe : from photos of pilgrims celebrating her feast day to a chapter on contemprary artists' interpretations of her image, as well as a poem in Spanish and English, which recounts the Virgin's miraculous apparition. But the Virgin is more than just a spiritual figurehead in Mexico : for many, her popularity has led them to emblazon her image on all kinds of items, from faux-fur capes and glittering handbags, to air fresheners and key rings, making this book a treasure to delight kitsch fanatics.