LIMA.- Last Thursday, 18th April 2013, saw the opening of Mario Testino's exhibition Alta Moda, at his cultural institute in his home of Lima, Peru. Testino's Alta Moda (2007–2012) is a series of never before seen photographic portraits of Peruvians in traditional and festive dress from Cusco, one of the highest regions of Peru. Guests at the opening included model and philanthropist Natalia Vodianova, and American Vogue's International Editor-at-Large, Hamish Bowles.

The exhibition Alta Moda – literally “high fashion” in Spanish – is a series of photographic portraits of Peruvians wearing traditional and festive attire from the mountainous region of Cusco. It represents a bold departure for Testino from his work for fashion magazines. “I usually try to capture the moment” says Testino. “But with this series, I wanted to do something very different – not just with my own work but also with the practice of photography. I tried to fit as much time and history into each frame as possible – from the traditional and festive clothing to the Chambi backdrops to the Peruvian people in them. Alta Moda is quite different from the portraits I am perhaps best known for.”

Testino goes on to say “I am delighted with the reaction to this exhibition and pleased that we are also working on a tour for Alta Moda to exhibit the show internationally. After this opening at MATE, Alta Moda will be exhibited in New York in the fall of 2013. I would also like to extend our gratitude to our exhibition and institutional partners, Shamrock, Banco de Credito del Peru, Hochschild Group and Prom Peru for their valued support of MATE and Alta Moda.”

This exhibition will reinforce the mission statement of this cultural institution, which was established to promote and celebrate Peruvian art and artists, both locally and internationally, and permanently host the work of its founder, Mario Testino.