This fascinating illustrated book brings together brief biographies of 100 women and men whose activities in the 19th century laid the foundations of modern China and the country's transition from dynastic empire to republic. This beautifully illustrated book, written by a large team of international scholars and specialists, sprang from a simple but original ambition: to provide the reader with an understanding - told through the lives of 100 significant individuals - of how China transformed from dynastic empire to a modern, republican nation during the period 1796 to 1912. Both famous and surprisingly little-known women and men are brought together in eight thematic sections that illuminate the birth of modern China. Featured figures include the Dowager Empress Cixi, the power behind the Dragon Throne for fifty years; Yu Rongling, who is regarded as the founder of modern dance in China and who trained in Paris with Isadora Duncan; Duanfang, China's first serious collector of international art before being murdered by his own troops in the 1911 Revolution that destroyed the Qing dynasty; Shi Yang, the greatest woman pirate in the world who is now celebrated in popular culture as a powerful feminine icon; Luo Zhenyu, the 'father' of Chinese archaeology whose discoveries confirmed the antiquity of Chinese civilization; and many others. This book breathes life into China's history and international relations, filling the gap in the market for an accessible book that meets the widespread and growing desire to understand China and its role on the world stage.
A beautifully designed gift book devoted to the work of the renowned ceramics firm Wedgwood. Looking back at key moments in Wedgwood's design history, this book celebrates the visual power and great design encapsulated by Wedgwood from its founding in 1759 to the present day. The name 'Wedgwood' has come to stand for something far beyond its illustrious and energetic founder: uniting art and industry; introducing design and artistic collaborations; the iconic blue and white of Wedgwood jasper. This book tells that story through the lens of design, reflecting the continuing role that Wedgwood and its designers, artists and employees played in setting trends, responding to the market and producing high-quality, desirable ceramics for a broad range of consumers, yet tied to the traditions established by Josiah Wedgwood in the eighteenth century. It presents highlights from the V&A Wedgwood Collection, reflecting the unique proposition of Wedgwood's business: by operating in both the 'ornamental' and 'useful' markets, Wedgwood was able to bring innovative ceramic design to large areas of a captive market. These ceramics and their stories demonstrate the artistic heritage, craft and innovation that have become synonymous with the Wedgwood name.
A richly illustrated, up-to-the-minute overview of new approaches in drawing, set in the context of recent developments of other forms of contemporary art. This book explores the variety of ways in which contemporary artists from around the world have come to approach drawing as the primary, sometimes the sole, element of their practice, and one which is autonomous: an end in itself rather than a means to an end in another, more substantial medium. In an era of advanced technologies where image production has accelerated - potentially beyond the capacity of human attention - what values can be attributed to the slow, deliberate process of drawing by hand? The artworks featured in this volume are not confined to traditional tools - one can also draw on a computer, tablet or smartphone, and examples of digital drawing are incorporated into the narrative not as a separate category but as one medium among many. Grouped thematically by specific approaches, including abstraction and figuration, nature and artifice, social observation and critique, with essays and feature spreads for each section, this selection of international artists of diverse backgrounds and experience includes not only recognizable names such as Michael Armitage, Camille Henrot, Robert Longo, Amy Sillman and Kara Walker, but also a host of emerging talents. Beautifully presented in a visually appealing and tactile format with the feel of an artist's portfolio, this is an inspiring overview of the best drawing practice today.
A fresh look at the stories at the heart of Norse mythology, exploring their cultural impact right up to the present day. The heroes and villains of Norse mythology have endured for centuries, infiltrating art, opera, film, television and books, shape-shifting - like the trickster Loki - to suit the cultures that encountered them. Through careful analysis of the literature and archaeology of the Norse world, Carolyne Larrington takes us deep into the realm described in the Icelandic sagas, from the gloomy halls of Hel to the dazzling heights of Asgard. She expertly examines the myths' many modern-day reimaginings, revealing the guises that have been worn by the figures of Norse myth, including Marvel's muscled, golden-haired Thor and George R.R Martin's White Walkers, who march inexorably southwards, bringing their eternal winter with them. This sophisticated yet accessible guide explores how these powerful stories have inspired our cultural landscape, from fuelling the creative genius of Wagner to the construction of the Nazi's nationalist ideology. Larrington's elegantly written retellings capture the essence of the original myths while also delving into the history of their meanings. The myths continue to speak to such modern concerns as masculinity and environmental disaster - after the inevitable, apocalyptic ragna rök, renewal comes from the roots of Yggdrasill, the World Tree.
A new concise history of modern painting, offering an indispensable reference to the complexities and characteristics of this medium. While acknowledging the legacy of Herbert Read¿s classic 1959 study A Concise History of Modern Painting in the World of Art series, academic and artist Simon Morley places the foundation of modern art much earlier than Read, at the emergence of Romanticism and the dawn of the industrial age. Structured loosely chronologically by period, the focus is as much on individual artists as well as movements, with works discussed within a broader context - stylistic, historical, geographical, and gender and ethnic frames - themes that recur throughout the chapters. Generously illustrated, the global and diverse range of artists featured include William Blake, Édouard Manet, Hilma af Klint, Kazimir Malevich, Willem de Kooning, Amrita Sher-Gil, Faith Ringgold, and Kehinde Wiley. This guide also includes an Appendix in the form of questions the reader might like to ask in relation to the artists and the ideas discussed - in order to reconsider the works from a contemporary perspective.
An absorbing group biography revealing how exiles from war-torn France brought Surrealism to America, sparking the movement that became Abstract Expressionism. In 1957 the American artist Robert Motherwell made an unexpected claim: 'I have only known two painting milieus well ... the Parisian Surrealists, with whom I began painting seriously in New York in 1940, and the native movement that has come to be known as "abstract expressionism", but which genetically would have been more properly called "abstract surrealism".' Motherwell's bold assertion, that Abstract Expressionism was neither new nor local, but born of a brief liaison between America and France, verged on the controversial. Surrealists in New York tells the story of this 'liaison' and the European exiles who bought Surrealism with them - an artistic exchange between the Old World and the New - centring on taciturn printmaker Stanley William Hayter and the legendary Atelier 17 print studio he founded. Here artists' experiments literally pushed the boundaries of modern art. It was in Hayter's studio that Jackson Pollock found the balance of freedom and control that would culminate in his distinctive drip paintings. The impact of Max Ernst, André Masson, Louise Bourgeois and other noted émigrés on the work of Motherwell, Pollock, Mark Rothko and the American avant-garde has for too long been quietly written out of art history. Drawing on first-hand documents, interviews and archive materials, Charles Darwent brings to life the events and personalities from this crucial encounter. In so doing, he reveals a fascinating new perspective on the history of the art of the twentieth century.
A clear, concise and detailed historical analysis of the eclectic and beautiful visual and material culture of Paganism. Who are Pagans and what do they believe? Which gods and goddesses do they revere? Do they worship nature? Do they practise divination and magic? From sacred plants imbued with supernatural powers to hand-carved amulets that repel evil, Pagans find divine value in the natural world and spiritual significance in the material universe. Presenting a spectacular collection of art and artefacts from the last 3,000 years, drawn from Hindu, Shinto, Native American, Ancient Norse, Roman, Greek and Celtic religions, Ethan Doyle White explores the rich visual and material culture of paganism. He begins by tracing the ancient origins of paganism and exploring how materials from the pre-Christian religions of Europe, North Africa, and West Asia are built into the practices of today's Pagans. Each of the book's subsequent nine chapters features illustrated text interspersed with double-page presentations of the key figures, stories and iconography relevant to each theme. As the book progresses, readers will not only come to understand the many symbols that define Pagan religions and practices, but will also discover the modern-day beliefs and philosophies of Pagans from around the world, including Wiccans, Druids, neo-Shamans and Heathens.
An accessible and popular introduction to African photography and cinema from the mid-20th century to the present day. The African Gaze is a comprehensive exploration of postcolonial and contemporary photography and cinema from Africa. Drawing from archival imagery and documents, interviews with the photographers and filmmakers (in some cases family members/close associates if the artist is deceased), and contributions from writers, scholars and curators, it maps a complete introduction to African moving and still imagery. This is a hugely important and timely publication ¿ engagement with Black and African histories is stronger than ever before (and long overdue). The major names of African photography, such as Malick Sidibé, Sanlé Sory and Seydou Keïta, have become highly collectible in the art market, while African cinema, pioneered by Ousmane Sembene in 1960s Senegal, is now recognized for its creative innovation and storytelling. For anyone drawn to African photography and film, this book will provide an exciting and accessible overview.
Discover a spine-tingling collection of toxic animals, and learn about the astonishing strategies they use to deliver venom and poison. Creatures from all around the animal kingdom wield a mysterious weapon that is key to their survival: poison! These sophisticated concoctions are designed with precision to defy predators or subdue prey. Big-eyed fuzzy critters with a deadly bite; tiny flashy octopuses that can kill in minutes; sinister spiders, snakes and scorpions...
A spectacular anniversary publication to celebrate ninety years since the launch of Chanel's first fine jewelry collection in 1932. 'I used my penchant for all that shines to try and reconcile elegance and fashion in a set of jewelry' Gabrielle Chanel From Gabrielle Chanel's 1932 collection to the newest interpretations of her signature signs and symbols, Chanel fine jewelry remains eternally modern and true to the spirit of her enterprise. Breathtaking new photography and classic images from the Chanel archives bring together revealing combinations in a stunning visual narrative, privileging aesthetic form over chronology. Chanel's passion for fabulous and improbable marvels is celebrated here in a covetable book-object that pays tribute to the house's unparalleled insistence on luxury and refinement, creativity and beauty. Based on extensive research and exploring Chanel's life and art through some of the most precious of all her creations and the eternally modern ideas they have inspired, the book features superb photographs by Mario Testino, Patrick Demarchelier, François Kollar, Roger Schall, George Hoyningen-Huene, Horst P. Horst, André Kertész, Sarah Moon, Karl Lagerfeld, Koto Bolofo, Karim Sadli, Dominique Issermann, and many others. It is also illustrated with images from Chanel's archive and sketches that express the creativity and joie de vivre of the world's finest high jewelry collection.
Trace the history of the world in over 500 easy-to-follow maps, from the dawn of humanity to the present day. Organized chronologically, A History of the World in 500 Maps tells a clear, linear story, bringing together themes as diverse as religion, capitalism, warfare, geopolitics, popular culture and climate change. Meticulously rendered maps chart the sequence of broad historical trends, from the dispersal of our species across the globe to the colonizing efforts of imperial European powers in the 18th century, as well as exploring moments of particular significance in rich detail. ¿ Visualizes 7 million years of human history. ¿ Analyses cities and kingdoms as well as countries and continents. ¿ Features major technical developments, from the invention of farming in the Fertile Crescent to the Industrial Revolution. ¿ Charts the spread of major global religions, including Christianity and Islam. ¿ Explores the increasing interconnectivity of our world through exploration and trade. ¿ Investigates warfare and battles from across the ages, from Alexander the Great¿s conquests to the D-Day offensive.
An intimate exploration of Yves Saint Laurent¿s creative world, captured by photographer ¿ and son of the couturier¿s right-hand woman, Anne-Marie Muñoz ¿ Carlos Muñoz-Yagüe. Yves Saint Laurent: Inside Out presents an extraordinarily intimate insight into a fascinating world of creativity in the latter, sumptuous phase of Saint Laurent¿s career, between 1988 and his final collection in 2002. The book offers a comprehensive and multi-faceted exploration of the life of an haute couture house: from informal, atmospheric portraits of Yves Saint Laurent at work in his studio, drawing and creating, to the behind-the-scenes work of the `petites mains¿ in the ateliers, the skilled army of artisans whose activity is rarely documented. The house¿s world-famous models also feature, captured during pre-collection fittings in the house¿s grandiose salons and in electric backstage moments before the shows. Private archive materials ¿ letters, documents, drawings, and ephemera ¿ that situate the protagonists and give context to the unique position that the young Carlos enjoyed as a `fly on the wall¿ in this rarefied universe are also included in the book, and published here for the first time. A moving and visually stunning tribute to the iconic Yves Saint Laurent house as yoüve never seen it before, Yves Saint Laurent: Inside Out will be a must-have for fashion and photography fans.
From the award-winning author of The Star in the Forest, a heartfelt story about learning to cope with anxiety and grief.
A mini-monograph on Samuel Fosso, the renowned Cameroon-born Nigerian photographer. Samuel Fosso (b. 1962) is one of Central Africa's leading contemporary artists, whose playful and perceptive work investigates Pan-African identity and history through the use of portraiture. Fosso's path to artistry was found through his initial work as a commercial portrait photographer, utilising his leftover film by capturing self-portraits against well-considered backdrops and incorporating pose, costume and props. Renowned for his 'autoportraits' - styling himself and others as characters from popular culture or politics - Samuel Fosso reflects the world around him through a distinct aesthetic that has at times defied Nigerian dictatorial decree. Fosso's work is now held in the public collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Tate, and he was the recipient of the Prince Claus Award of The Netherlands, in 2001.
The definitive survey of contemporary photography of the human body.
The lives, loves, and works of key British Surrealists revealed by one of the last surviving members of this movement, best-selling author and artist Desmond Morris.
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