I wanted to capture the vitality of Lima in such a way as to embrace its many interwoven cultures. I love religious iconography, just as I love kitsch, and when I started exploring Lima’s artistic community, visiting artists in their studios, I discovered we shared the same sensibility.

This declaration of intent with regard to Mario Testino’s first book in the role of editor and talent scout is well exemplified in nearly 200 photographs which offer now intimist and now chaotic glimpses of the populous South American capital. Lima, Peru unveils the many faces of a complex, tentacular and glorious city – Lima – seen through the eyes of artists, photographers and photoreporters selected by the great fashion photographer. The twenty plus creators of these images pass rapidly among lovers, markets, teenagers, churches, surfers, high society, priests, soccer players and an immense crowd moving in places that are spontaneous and still little accustomed to giving themselves to the camera lens.

Mario Testino moved to London at the beginning of the 70’s to take up a career as a fashion photographer. Over the years he made his name with work for Vogue and Vanity Fair and with his transformation of the image of many big fashion names and their place in the collective imagination. At the same time he built up his fame as a refined portraitist, immortalising Hollywood stars and above all royal families. His exhibition Portraits, which opened at the London National Portrait Gallery in 2002, has travelled all over the world.