Roger Canals Books

Focusing on the cult of María Lionza, this book delves into the significance of images and visual culture in Venezuelan religious practices. Through extensive fieldwork, it illustrates how the goddess is represented in various forms—Indian, white, or mestizo—and how these representations transition between objects, bodies, dreams, and artistic expressions. By adopting a relational approach, it offers a compelling analysis of visual creativity's influence on contemporary religious practices, revealing the dynamic interplay between art and spirituality.

The current practice of the cult of María Lionza is one of the most important and yet unexplored religious practices in Venezuela. Based on long-term fieldwork, this book explores the role of images and visual culture within the cult. By adopting a relational approach, A Goddess in Motion shows how the innumerable images of this goddess―represented as an Indian, white or mestizo woman―move constantly from objects to bodies, from bodies to dreams, and from the religion domain to the art world. In short, this book is a fascinating study that sheds light on the role of visual creativity in contemporary religious manifestations.