Disillusionment with the establishment is leading an increasing number of traditionally religious Mexicans to turn to what many believe to be a Satanist cult. Though Santa Muerte, or “Holy Death” in English, is not new—it has been around for centuries—only recently has its following reached fever pitch. Also known as La Niña Blanca (The White Girl), Santa Muerte is hailed as a great protector by its devotees, while its detractors claim it is a dangerous, blasphemous, and anti-cultural cult. British photographer Angus Fraser, whose fascination with the relationship between death and photography has been the subject of much of his photographic work, has made Santa Muerte the subject of a book, titled simply Santa Muerte. Having discovered the cult serendipitously during his travels to South America, Fraser was so taken by the culture that he decided to document it in depth. What resulted is a fascinating photo book, out now on Trolley Books.

Many of the photos are intimate, and show incredible closeness to the individuals involved in this worship. How did you gain access to private homes and locations of worship that were featured in the photos?

Over the four years I worked on the project I built relationships with the three protagonists. Owing to their influence and status as the main spiritual leaders of the faith, they enabled access for me to prisons, private homes, and businesses where devotees were based. Enriqueta Vargas was particularly accommodating, but all three protagonists wanted to show Santa Muerte for what it really represents and avoid the usual stereotypes associated with the cult.

What have you learned about those following the “cult”—what draws them to it in such staggering numbers?

The social issues that many Mexicans face on a daily basis have allowed Santa Muerte to grow exponentially. They need a saint who appears menacing enough to oppose the issues they face. I met many devotees and spiritual leaders during my time in Mexico, but for the book a decision was made to focus on the three leaders/protagonists who get the most exposure both nationally and internationally. There is an obvious visual attraction to Santa Muerte, the icon. Western society had been attracted to the idea of the grim reaper for centuries. Also, being a ‘new’ religion, the self proclaimed spiritual leaders of Santa Muerte use photography on various platforms of social media to advertise their gatherings. Photographs are placed on shrines of missing loved ones, deceased
family members and of individuals a devotee may want harmed or have retribution against. The use of photography and use of social media have enabled the cult to become more accessible .

What does Santa Muerte mean to you? 

In America and in Western media in general, Santa Muerte is portrayed sensationally as the Saint of the drug cartels and/or a saint for devil worshippers. I wanted to portray a more balanced,
nuanced view by recording what I saw—everyday Mexicans trying to get on with their life—and their devotion to Santa Muerte. Obviously there are images in the book that appear ‘sensationalist’
but I tried to record everything I saw from an impartial viewpoint. I am not a believer in any particular faith, but I am fascinated in religion for all its wrongs and rights, and my lasting impression of the cult is that considering all the negative press it gets, I cannot think of a religion that is a more welcoming religion to all the marginalized and disenfranchised people. Devotees came from all walks of society and I think they had generally had enough of the violence and corruption in their country and just wanted a saint who could appear just as mean and menacing as life can be in Mexico, but also loving and giving at the same time.

Santa Muerte is out now on Trolley Books.