Mil Besos / 1000 Kisses

New York: Rizzoli International Publications. Near Fine in Near Fine dj. 2009. First Edition. Hardcover. [a lovely copy, with only minimal wear to both book and jacket]. (B&W photographs) The third (and most uncommon) book by this Colombian-born photographer presents "an extraordinary collection of images of the women of flamenco," shot by Afanador "under the bright sunlight and set against the austere landscape and incandescent walls of Andalusia in Southern Spain. Under improbably and often chaotic circumstances in this remote and rural milieu, Afanador, together with the women and his troop of inspired collaborators, created an intricate choreography of poses and gestures that embodies the passionate song and dance of flamenco and intimates its origins and fusion of cultures that have pervaded the Iberian peninsula for centuries." The photographs are prefaced by a group of short "love letters" from various well-known ladies from the world of fashion: Marisa Berenson, Iman, Heidi Klum, Eva Longoria Parker, Eva Mendes, Rossy De Palma, Isabel Toledo, and Diane von Furstenberg. The entire enterprise (indeed, Afanador himself) was sort of godfathered by famed (later disgraced, still later rehabilitated) designer John Galliano, who provides the book's Introduction, in which he states that he "was mesmerized by the power, the beauty, and the stories that unfold in [Afanador's] art," and praises his "photographic style that is at once terrifying, erotic, bewitching, and ultimately sacred." Afanador produced a follow-up/companion volume to this one in 2014, entitled "Angel Gitano: The Men of Flamenco." ****NOTE that additional postage charges will be assessed for international shipping of this large heavy book; if this concerns you, please contact us for a shipping quote before placing your order.**** .