An illuminating introduction to little-known photographer Issei Suda, who captured the soul of Japan old and new. The work of Issei Suda (1940-2019) is distinct in contemporary avant-garde Japanese photography for its celebration of the beauty of the everyday. His black and white pictures reflect on apparent banality of urban life, capturing 'the little surprises usually ignored in our world': the shadow of a figure, the shapes of the street, the expressions on stranger's faces. Suda's practice revealed the tensions between old and new Japan, juxtaposing the ingrained visual traditions of Japanese culture with the prevailing western vocabulary of fashion, advertising and leisure, as seen through his observant and tender lens.
A lively introduction to and history of international contemporary art from 1960 to the present.
A clear, concise, and detailed historical analysis of the eclectic and arcane visual and material culture of the occult. Focusing on a carefully curated selection of esoteric art and artefacts, Occult explores the meaning and mystic power of original occult manuscripts, ritual objects and symbols from around the world. The author identifies five key elements of occultism - alchemy, astrology, magic, mysticism and divination. Key symbols are highlighted and examined, and key rituals and practices are explained to provide new insights into the philosophies and beliefs of occultists from antiquity to today. The book begins with an introduction that clarifies what we mean by 'occult'. It traces the pre-Christian origins of esotericism in Mesopotamian astrology and Persian alchemy and its development through the Middle Ages as occult sciences, encompassing Kabbalah and natural, astral and ritual magic. Occult is then organized into three broad sections - exploring the foundations of the occult, the philosophy of occult magic and the modern occult revival - that guide readers from the ancient through to the rebirth of occult in the 19th century with spiritualism, theosophy and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the 20th-century¿s anthroposophy, 'New Age' and occulture movements. For each of the nine themed chapters, illustrated narrative text is interspersed with double-page presentations of the key practices, figures, and symbols relevant to that theme. Artworks and artefacts are examined in detail: the practices depicted are identified and explained, and the hidden symbolism decrypted. As the book progresses, readers will not only come to understand the mysterious practices and secret ciphers of the occult, but will also discover the beliefs, rituals and philosophies of occultists around the world from their origins in the early esoteric traditions of the ancient Egyptians to their reinterpretation in modern occultism.
Using luminous HUV printing, Bang immerses readers in the awe-inspiring phenomena of the natural world. In this follow up to the highly acclaimed Glow, award-winning illustrator Jennifer N. R. Smith takes us on a breathtaking tour of the planet¿s most astonishing natural phenomena - from explosive volcanoes and geysers to dancing lights in the night sky. The Earth may seem solid and stationary but deep beneath its surface it is constantly changing, twisting and transforming. Its unbridled power is what generates surreal natural phenomena and dramatic landscapes, as well as devastating natural disasters. In this lavishly illustrated book, young readers will discover the explosive power of volcanoes, a cave filled with giant crystals, a hot spring pool filled with bathing snow monkeys, dinosaurs hidden between layers of rock and an incredible ecosystem that can survive the boiling hot waters around hydrothermal vents, as well as extreme weather and incredible optical phenomena, including auroras, light pillars and sun dogs. Hyper-detailed, glorious and awe-inspiring in and of itself, this book will inspire young earth scientists to see the wonder in the world around them.
Thirty years after Derek Jarman's death, we are finally allowed inside Prospect Cottage, a house that encapsulates the filmmaker's vision of the world. This is a companion and follow-up to Derek Jarman¿s Garden, 28 years in print and still arguably Jarman's most popular book. While the garden of Prospect Cottage in Dungeness is much-visited and widely featured, the house has long remained closed to visitors. We are now finally permitted to open the door onto a previously undisturbed, unseen world, itself an artistic testament. The background to the book is a poignant story of love and loss. Following Derek Jarman¿s death, Prospect Cottage passed to his partner Keith Collins, who changed only one thing: introducing curtains to prevent visitors to the garden from peering in. When Collins died suddenly in 2018, McCarragher, a friend and neighbour in Dungeness, was asked to record the house. This was the first time a photographer had so extensively documented the cottage, an artwork in its own right, which encapsulates Jarman's vision of the world. Organized room by room, McCarragher's photographs are accompanied by reflective essays that take the reader inside the cottage and reveal something of its history and the experience of photographing there. McCarragher compares the house to a camera, with a dark interior and light coming in through various openings, carefully measured and calculated by the filmmaker. If Jarman¿s garden is key to his lively and life-affirming outside universe, the house is a bit like his soul, his mind, a microcosm of his worldview.
A chronicle of post-9/11 America, at war and at home, as seen through the lens of one of Magnum Photos' leading photographers. A compelling and revealing photographic critique.
Follow the investigations of Miss Cat as she tries to crack the case of a missing canary in a thrilling Scandi noiresque graphic novel.
An in-depth overview of Ukrainian art from the dawn of Modernism in the late nineteenth century to the start of the Russian invasion in Spring 2022. This new volume in the World of Art series provides an overview of Ukrainian art, artists and art movements from the dawn of Modernism and the 1900s to the Soviet period, to post-Soviet times and the beginning of the war with Russia in February 2022. Ukrainian art and artists are discussed within historical and political contexts as well as how they have contributed to, and interacted with, Ukrainian culture and identity. Filled with rich illustrations, each chapter explores a different art period or movement. We are at a historical moment where Ukraine and its cultural identity are in grave danger, and author Alisa Lozhkina offers a powerful opportunity to connect curious and empathetic readers with the Ukrainian art tradition.
A concise history of Paris and the great events and personalities, from prehistory to the present, that have shaped its unique cultural legacy. Once described as `that metropolis of dress and debauchery¿ by the Scottish poet David Mallet, then as now Paris had a reputation for a peculiar joie de vivre, from style to sex, cookery to couture, captivating minds and imaginations across the Continent and beyond. In Paris: A Short History, Jeremy Black explores the unique cultural circumstances that made Paris the vibrant capital it is today. Black explores how Paris has been shaped through the centuries from the first century BCE, when the city was founded by the Parisii. From a small Gallic capital conquered by the Romans, Paris transformed into a flourishing medieval city full of spectacular palaces and cathedrals, including Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame de Paris. During the illustrious reigns of Louis XIV and XV Paris became one of the most beautiful and cosmopolitan capitals in the world, before the Revolution tore French society apart, changing the city forever. The Belle Époque brought new ideas and architecture to the city, including the iconic Eiffel Tower, before the destruction of the First and Second World Wars launched a massive regeneration project. Black completes his history by exploring present-day Paris and its role as the seat of a leading power on the world stage. Black deftly demonstrates that the history of Paris is about more than a city: it is the history of a culture, a society and a state that has impacted the rest of the world through centuries of changing fortunes.
The many stimulating and aromatic things you can do with a coffee bean, richly illustrated and sure to perk you up! Discover how to make a perfect cup, from stimulating ristretto to comforting mocha; experiment with spices and spirits and the many varieties of coffee drinks; and learn how to make some delicious recipes using your favourite flavour. Jump-start your brew with this coffee knowledge! You'll discover how to master the bean to make your own dream cup, and the colourful package makes the book a perfect gift for the person in your life who simply can't do anything before their first cup of the day.
A definitive survey of the finest examples of residential architecture in Britain from 1900 to the present, featuring the major architects of the 20th century and leading emerging talents. In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in the architectural history and heritage of Britain. This has been driven by many important political, cultural and social factors, as well as a powerful and renewed interest in the design of house and home. The Iconic British House explores and celebrates fifty of the most architecturally significant houses from 1900 to the present. Encompassing major artistic movements, such as Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, Modernism and Postmodernism, the houses include examples designed by architects Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Edwin Lutyens, Berthold Lubetkin, Serge Chermayeff, Richard Rogers and many others. 21st-century innovation and imagination are evidenced in houses by established and emerging talents, such as Seth Stein, Nick Eldridge, Robin Partington and Ken Shuttleworth. Much more than a celebration of influential homes, this richly illustrated overview is also a comprehensive guide to shifting architectural movements and ideas, a survey of great architects with international relevance and a journey through changing tastes, styles, aesthetics and patterns of living.
The most ambitious and comprehensive book on women¿s vintage fashion ever published, featuring over 1,000 garments dating from the 1920s to the 1980s. This is not just another history of fashion: it is a survey of how fashion past continues to inspire fashion present. It features over 1,000 stand-out pieces, together with over 300 contextual illustrations, dating from the 1920s to the 1980s, including many icons of vintage fashion, from Marilyn Monroe¿s bra to the Ossie Clark dress made so famous by David Hockney¿s painting. Each garment is explored from the viewpoint of the contemporary fashionista looking to build a vintage wardrobe. The book is organized into three main sections. 'Decades' explores the shapes and fabrics that define the look of each period. 'Elements' explores the individual components of a vintage look, everything from hat to shoes. 'Hallmarks' explores fashion¿s perennial themes, from florals to the ever-popular Little Black Dress. Finally, a reference section includes invaluable practical advice for fans and collectors of vintage.
A comprehensive introduction to the styles and techniques of portrait photography. Through simple projects on subjects such as 'Making Self-Portraits' and 'Capturing Personal Moments' as well as captivating profiles of twenty internationally acclaimed photographers, Cian Oba-Smith and Max Ferguson give you a visual tour of the medium. Perfect for the aspiring portrait photographer, this manual includes: ¿ Projects with which to experiment and develop your technique ¿ Inspirational profiles of leading photographers from around the world ¿ A complete overview of the most exciting, continually evolving form of photography
A glorious celebration of the beauty, diversity, importance and sheer wonder of plants, with exquisite illustrations from the collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Plants feed us, clothe us, shelter us, help transport us, and can both intoxicate and cure us. From food staples to exotic and enchanting flowers, plants are essential for the wellbeing of our selves and our planet. Helen and William Bynum are expert guides to the intriguing histories and uses of over 80 key plants. Rich in cultural, historical, botanical and symbolic associations, the plants, from every corner of the globe ¿ both familiar and bizarre ¿ have fascinating stories to tell. Starting with foods that laid the foundations for the development of civilizations, such as wheat, rice and maize, and those that enliven our diet, such as saffron and spices, sections look at plants that have helped to create our material world, including bamboo and the oak, and crops that have made people rich, such as tea, coffee and sugar cane. Many plants have been used medicinally and others, for instance eucalyptus or giant redwoods, have come to epitomize entire landscapes. Some are the objects of obsession, including the tulip, the rose and the lotus, and some are distinctly strange, such as the world¿s largest flower, rafflesia, which smells of rotting flesh! For anyone interested in the extraordinary beauty and diversity of flora around us, this stunning book, illustrated with botanical drawings, paintings and artworks will be an inspiration and a delight.
A compelling and authoritative overview of the drawings of Vincent van Gogh, one of the most celebrated and intriguing figures in the history of art. Vincent van Gogh¿s (1853¿1890) drawings are some of the most familiar and expressive in the history of art. Van Gogh believed that drawing was the `root of everything¿, and this was reflected in his remarkable output of over 1,000 works during his short and tragic life; many of them personal, often lonely explorations of the emerging modern world. This book is the first comprehensive account to celebrate the singularity of the artist¿s achievements in this field. Arranged broadly thematically, from drawings of potato harvesters to depictions of knotted poplars, pensive studies from life to a sketch of the famous Yellow House in Arles, eminent art historian and curator Christopher Lloyd encourages readers to consider the artist¿s drawings from a fresh viewpoint: documenting successes and failures, experiments, trials and disappointments. Primarily self-taught, Van Gogh¿s approach to drawing was instinctual, but he soon recognized the importance of mastering the grammar of art ¿ anatomy, foreshortening, perspective ¿ as well as materials and techniques, in order to express his emotional responses to a subject as vividly as possible. With examples from the artist¿s voluminous and emotionally charged family correspondence, sketchbooks, and comparative artworks by the Old Masters and contemporaries, this engaging study outlines why drawing is central to Van Gogh¿s oeuvre, and equal to the intensity and reputation of his paintings. Featuring works from the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam and many other important collections in Europe and the US, this beautifully illustrated volume offers an extensive interpretation of the artist¿s drawings, beyond what has been published to date.
A new, narrative history of the Renaissance that takes in the whole of Europe and its global context, written by one of the UK¿s foremost art critics and respected writers on art. This imaginative reframing of the Renaissance presents its history as that of connections across Europe, where artists from the north and south were, together, products of the brilliantly fertile mix of classical inspiration, observation and selfconsciousness that set European culture alight from the 15th to the early 17th centuries. From Leonardo to Bosch, Bruegel to Titian, this stirring narrative sets the lives of artists against a period of great change across the continent. Across thirteen chapters, art critic and writer Jonathan Jones relates the story of Renaissance artists as pioneers, adventurers and by their own lights `geniuses¿. He reveals how they were inspired by their travels and encounters across Europe and beyond, such as the Aztec treasures upon which Albrecht Dürer gazed with wonder in Brussels in 1520, Antonello da Messinäs arduous journey to Bruges to discover the true nature of oil paint, or Hieronymus Bosch finding inspiration in West African ivory carvings imported by the Portuguese to Antwerp and other cities. In this history of shared ideals, the arrival of a hitherto unknown Netherlandish painter, Pieter Bruegel, in 1550s Rome carries the same importance as the work Michelangelo was engrossed in at that very same moment, in the same city, to raise the new Saint Peter¿s Basilica towards heaven. From Italian palazzi and piazzas to German woods, the royal castle of Prague to the dungeons of the Inquisition, this engaging and evocative read will captivate general readers and scholars alike.
A wonderfully illustrated exploration of one of Hokusai's key motifs: Mount Fuji. Hokusai's Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji and the three volumes of his subsequent One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji show his fascination with a single motif: Mount Fuji. Hokusai's near-obsession with Fuji was part of his hankering after artistic immortality ¿ in Buddhist and Daoist tradition, Fuji was thought to hold the secret to eternal life, as one popular interpretation of its name suggests: 'Fu-shi' ('not death'). Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji was produced from c. 1830 to 1832 when Hokusai was in his seventies and at the height of his career. Among the prints are three of the artist's most famous: The Great Wave off Kanagawa, Fine Wind, Clear Morning and Thunderstorm Beneath the Summit. By the time he created his second great tribute to Mount Fuji, three volumes comprising One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji, he was using the artist names Gakyo rojin ('Old Man Crazy to Paint'), and Manji ('Ten Thousand Things', or 'Everything'). Contrasting the mountain's steadfastness and solidity with the ravages of the surrounding elements, Hokusai depicts Fuji through different seasons, weather conditions and settings, and in so doing communicates an important message: while life changes, Fuji stands still. Including all the illustrations from these two masterpieces, this book also features many of Hokusai¿s earlier renditions of the mountain, as well as later paintings. In this way, through Mount Fuji, this volume traces a history of Hokusai¿s oeuvre overall.
An original retelling of a classic Taoist tale. Once upon a time, there was a tiny grain of sand. Its life was rather boring, until one day it made a wish. Suddenly the grain of sand found out what it might be like to be something else âEUR" but is the grass always greener? This rendition of a classic fable tackles an age-old question: how can you be happy with your lot in a world full of temptation? With bold, contemporary illustrations and a rhythmic and witty text, this book is funny, lively and wise.
The astonishing phenomenon of bioluminescence is brought to life in vivid detail by medical illustrator Jennifer N. R. Smith. The natural world is an infinite source of wonder and the phenomenon of bioluminescence is no exception. Glow explores the remarkable way animals and plants light up of their own accord, and what we can learn from their incredible glow-in-the-dark abilities. Written and illustrated in minute detail by medical illustrator Jennifer N. R. Smith, Glow takes readers on a magical journey to the deepest ocean trenches, through winding networks of caves and into the darkest corners of the forest to experience the wonder of bioluminescence. The first in a series of non-fiction children's books exploring natural phenomena, Glow introduces readers to creatures that glow in the dark including anglerfish, firefly squid, lanternfish, the glowing sucker octopus, Flor de Coco and Honey fungi, as well as hosts of fireflies and glow-worms. It also celebrates the scientists and deep-sea explorers who, at great personal risk, have travelled to the ocean floor to study bioluminescence. Combining natural history with STEM, Glow considers how bioluminescence works and what we can learn from it, including ways to prevent climate change and tackle pollution. Printed using UV printing techniques with a 5th spot colour, the illustrations literally glow on the page, making for a truly awe-inspiring reading experience.
A new, revolutionary history of photography from a stellar team of writers and thinkers that challenges all existing narratives by focusing on the complex collaborations between photographer and subject. Led by five of the great thinkers and practitioners in photography, and including texts by over 100 writers, critics and academics, this groundbreaking publication presents a potential history of photography explored through the lens of collaboration, challenging the dominant narratives around photographic history and authorship. With more than 1,000 photographs, it breaks apart photography's 'single creator' tradition by bringing to light tangible traces of collaboration - the various relationships, exchanges and interactions that occur between all participants in the making of any photograph. This collaboration takes different forms, including coercion and cooperation, friendship and exploitation, and expresses shared interests as well as competition, rivalry or antagonistic partnership. The conditions of collaboration are explored through 100 photography 'projects', divided into eight thematic chapters including 'The Photographed Subject', 'The Author' and 'Potentializing Violence'. The result of years of research, Collaboration addresses key issues of gender, race and societal hierarchies and divisions and their role in forging identity and conformity. The photographs from each project are presented non-hierarchically alongside quotes, testimonies, and short texts by guest contributors. These networks of texts and images offer perspectives on a vast array of photographic themes, from Araki's portraits of women to archival files from the Spanish Civil War. Each chapter is introduced by the editors, who provide the keys to understanding and decoding the complex politics of seeing.
A new take on Southeast Asiäs complex history, expertly told through art objects and cultural artefacts dating from the Neolithic Age to the present. Southeast Asia is home to numerous world heritage sites. Through engaging texts and expertly curated objects from the British Museum collection, arranged chronologically and thematically into seven chapters, this volume offers a new approach to one of the most complex and diverse areas of the world. Every object tells a story in a wide-ranging and accessible selection that illuminates the civilizations, societies and local cultures that have defined Southeast Asia over the past 6,000 years. From the emergence of early agricultural communities and stratified societies to the rise of powerful empires and religious developments in Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity, and to the eras of colonial rule and independence, curator and art historian Alexandra Green traces and explores the variety of Southeast Asian cultures. The texts describe the region through a broad range of objects, including sculptures from the historic civilizations of Java, Angkor, Bagan and Sukhothai, as well as ceramics, furniture, religious items, basketry, textiles, popular posters and contemporary art. This book is an informative visual delight for curious minds everywhere.
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