This book aims to help readers rediscover the sacredness of the everyday landscapes around them in order to shed light on the ecological imperatives of our time. Drawn from the union of art, nature, and metaphysics, it presents some of the myths and legends of antiquity as they might be recognised by our modern society of earth-shapers. Through word and image the authors reference the ecological and environmental concepts found at the core of traditional environmental knowledge and provide a new context for environmental engagement that merges the spiritual and phenomenological with the scientific and empirical. Wisdom of Place can be used by anyone — from creatives to spiritual seekers, landscape architects to coders — to call forth the voice of the genius loci — the spirit of place — and reveal the creative forces and hidden currents of nature.
The photography collected in A View from the Top may have arisen out of a desire to document a singular body of work—the Viewpoint Collection. Through Kelley’s eye, lens, and postproduction choices, however, it advances the very way that buildings can be photographed and understood, allowing us to visit residences that most of us will never see in person.
The photographs also demonstrate that these projects are quintessentially Californian. Their emphasis on open plans, airy modernism, the indoor-outdoor relationship, natural textures and colour-palette, and an intensive attention to landscaping are also quintessentially Los Angeles. The buildings—which are the creations of some of the world’s most renowned architects—are inspired and inspiring. They are luxurious, aspirational, and visually exciting. The book is both a valuable contribution to architectural history and a pleasure to read.
Montreal is so much more than its old world architecture and love of wine and cheese. The Quebecois metropolis is bursting with enough joie de vivre to make just about anyone want to get out and explore its cobblestoned and pothole-ridden streets — and true Montrealers know that the city has its own unique identity and quirks that place it in a league all its own.
Spend a wine-fuelled cinq à sept with a ghost at the city’s oldest bar. Get up close and personal with a life-like portrayal of Benito Mussolini. And go skating in the middle of the downtown core — any time of the year.
This guide comes as a love letter to Canada’s largest French-speaking city and everything it has to offer its residents and travellers. Visiting and full-time Montrealers alike will be pleasantly surprised by what can be discovered beyond the cobblestone and steeples if only you’re willing to take the side streets.
Most people go to Napa and Sonoma in Northern California for the wine, and rightly so. The trove of 111 unexpected treasures in this guidebook, however, vastly broadens the possibilities for exploring and experiencing this region in a whole new way. The area is filled with natural wonders, from giant redwood forests and rolling hills, to cliffs and beaches, and even a secret spot to see 20,000 migrating grey whales. Discover the history of Native people who lived here for millennia. Walk in the footsteps of titans of literature, film, and design. Linger in museums featuring fine art, culinary history, and a hubcap collection. You’ll find a sense of whimsy here, too, as you hunt for fairy doors or stroll through a pygmy forest. Visit restaurants, gardens, music venues, gravesites of people who made an impact here, and more places you never imagined existed – and, yes, a few truly unique wineries too.
René Staud, the grand master of automobile photography, has published a new illustrated book. In his coffee-table book Black Beauties, the automotive photographer devotes himself entirely to the colour black. In this extraordinarily book, Staud takes car lovers on a journey through time and presents the top models of the world’s greatest sports car brands. From the legendary Alfa Romeo 8C from the 1930s, to the declared goddess Citroën DS, to the fastest open-top series sports car, the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, the star photographer demonstrates the aesthetics that the colour black lends a car.
Staud’s photographs are characterised by his trademark striking style and uniquely showcase the classic elegance and sporting potency of the vehicles.
But this impressive coffee table book does not only inspire with its great photos. The texts are by Jürgen Lewandowski, a luminary in automotive journalism and author of over 90 books on the subject. In addition, comments by Andrea Zagato (CEO Zagato), Gorden Wagener (head of design Mercedes) and Stephen Bayley (journalist and design critic) are included to provide the reader with specific insider knowledge from the industry.
Text in English and German.
Porsche, this car brand stands for power, precision and design. To mark the 75th anniversary of Porsche sports cars, photographer René Staud and Porsche expert Tobias Aichele present the impressive photo book Porsche – A Passion for Power.
In vivid images, the two authors illuminate the models of the Stuttgart-based carmaker along the timeline of the company’s history. The coffee-table book is structured chronologically, from the first Porsche Type 356 No. 1 to today’s top model, the Taycan. The impressive photos were mainly taken in the studio of the famous automobile photographer René Staud. With his sophisticated lighting technique, the Magicflash®, he conjures up shots that perfectly vividly depict the design and shape of the vehicles.
Hardly anyone knows the Porsche company as well as Tobias Aichele. And so it almost seems like a knighthood that the author of the bestseller Porsche 911 – Forever Young and the multiple award-winning book Mythos Porsche contributed his exciting content to this illustrated book. For die-hard sports car fans, Aichele has compiled a comprehensive model chronology and a lot of information about the company history of the sports car manufacturer.
Text in English and German.
At the age of 48, when she moved to the Isle of Wight, Julia Margaret Cameron (1815-1879) was given a camera by her daughter: “It might amuse you, Mother, to try to photograph during your solitude at Freshwater.” The gift was to begin Cameron’s short but prolific career as one of photography’s first great artists.
“From the first moment I handled my lens with a tender ardour, and it has become to me as a living thing, with voice and memory and creative vigour.”
The modern interest in Cameron’s photography began with the pioneering 1926 book by her great-niece Virginia Woolf and art critic Roger Fry. Their essays and the original plates are reprinted here, together with Cameron’s own account of her life in photography, Annals of My Glass House, her only surviving poem, On a Portrait, and an introduction by Tristram Powell.
Thirty-nine plates and other illustrations have been added, including many of Cameron’s most famous images.
San Francisco: the home of hills and valleys, of dreamers and trailblazers, of hippies and hipsters. From the gold rush to the Golden Gate, the City by the Bay has always basked in the glow of its colourful and celebrated history and world-renowned landmarks. But for those who live and love on this compact, seven-mile by seven-mile metropolis, San Francisco is a treasure trove of unusual neighbourhood sights and places that sparkle with the allure of hidden pleasures and local lore. Discover a stairway that transports you from the depths of the ocean to the heights of outer space; take a spin class amidst the grand elegance of a repurposed 1920s movie palace; or slide down a century-old sundial that sits at the centre of what was once California’s first racetrack for cars. This is the real San Francisco. Strung together, the 111 experiences gathered here tell the B-side story of the city once romantically known as the Paris of the West.
The war in Ukraine has brought about a newfound curiosity and interest in a country that is often misunderstood. Beloved Ukraine offers a glimpse into this country before the recent conflict, as captured through the lens of National Geographic Society photographer, Paul Chesley, over the course of several years. Beloved Ukraine is a tribute to this enigmatic country and its people.
“…his stories are always interesting, lively and well written, giving an insight to the art world as he experienced it.” — Literary Review
“If you read one book on art this year, it must be this brilliant critique of art today seen through the lens of retired museum curator Julian Spalding.” — International Property & Travel
Julian Spalding’s career as a curator and creator of museums was amongst the most controversial and effective of his time. In this collection of essays and memoirs he revisits some of the important events and battles of the last 40 years, when he spearheaded resistance to the cult of conceptual art being promoted from the centre. Witty, illuminating, coruscating and blazingly intelligent, this book is a vital guide to the ways in which we consume art today, for good or ill.
Scientists have discovered more than a million different species of insects that every day, in every part of the world, live their very diverse lives. Many fly, others walk or bore through wood. Some are pleasing to the eye, like butterflies; others, like cockroaches, a bit less. For the most part, insects are small – sometimes so small that you need a magnifying lens to see them – and that is the way we are used to thinking of them. But in this book, the insects are presented in their actual sizes and in many cases readers will be genuinely surprised to find some veritable giants among them. The book includes other impressive insect characteristics – how much they weigh, how fast they are, how large and small insects differ from each other – all of which can be seen in the life-size illustrations that make the insects seem as though they have just landed on the page. Ages: 7 plus
In Reimagined Worlds: Narrative Placemaking for People, Play, and Purpose, Margaret Chandra Kerrison presents an indispensable manifesto, compelling designers of environments and experiences to embrace a people-centred approach fuelled by intentional narratives. This thought-provoking book delves into the realm of uncharted possibilities, envisioning a world that fosters a deep sense of belonging and authentic self-expression. She shares her unique insights, drawing from her experiences as a former Walt Disney Imagineer and the 2023 Paul Helmle Fellow at Cal Poly Pomona’s School of Architecture. By combining storytelling with architectural and experiential design, the book inspires the creation of meaningful places that cultivate strong communities and shared values. Through this narrative lens, she encourages us to imagine and build a world we truly desire to inhabit, one that thrives on collaboration and purposeful living.
Published on the occasion of the monographic exhibition at the Corner of the MAXXI, this catalogue is illustrated with the earlier paintings and never-before-seen large works created especially for the museum, a dialogue between nine sets of twins and one work in which it is possible to recognise an expressive direction filtered through the lens of abstraction. In addition to the essay by the curator, the volume includes an interview with the artist, a critical text by Aurelio Picca, and a bio-bibliography. In short, the volume provides a complete portrait of Marco Tamburro: from the references to classical cinema, to the theatre and to contemporary photography, to his personal history and paintings, which combine aspects of his own life with imaginary events. His main source of inspiration is the city of Rome, consumed and crisscrossed by an infinity of trajectories, overlaid by buildings and skyscrapers.
Text in English and Italian.
A Year in the Vineyard is a tribute to the cycle of the vine. From winter pruning to vine leaves capturing the energy of the late autumn sun, the narrative is spun through vignettes about activities in vineyards around the globe, accompanied by photographs and background paintings. The book honours seasonal rhythms and rituals without glossing over potential risks, such as hail piercing acres of nascent chardonnay in Champagne or wildfires in the Napa Valley. The hope is that each spread captures a gesture, a step in a dance with the natural world, thus providing an experiential understanding of the axiom ‘wine is made in the vineyard’ and of the notion that fine wines are achieved in tandem with nature, not through triumph over the elements. It also shows wine growers as operating on the front line of the climate crisis, posing questions and offering potential remedies in response to the earth’s changing ecology.
“Award-winning Belgian photojournalist Nick Hannes casts a critical eye on six newly built capital cities around the world, from Korea to Kazakhstan, and questions whether they are really serving the people who live in them.” — Elle Decoration UK
What does the ideal capital look like? Photographer Nick Hannes travelled to six countries – Egypt, Korea, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Indonesia and Brazil – that have recently built a new capital or are in the process of doing so. Each and every one of them is a typical example of what Rem Koolhaas calls the Generic City: a planned city without historical layers, local identity, or its own character. As a visual sociologist with a sharp eye for detail, Hannes searches for the human dimension in a setting full of spectacular architecture and pompous prestige projects. New Capital is a critical reflection on unbridled neoliberal urban development and its social and ecological consequences, but is also peppered with subtle humour and surprising coincidences. Meandering between pride and sadness, New Capital shows how utopia and dystopia are sometimes surprisingly close.
Bruges has many faces. Its proud towers, elegant stepped gables and charming squares were once the scene of bloodshed and intrigue, but also of budding romances and excessive wealth. Seduced by its illustrious past, Bruges attracts countless visitors who come to soak up the romance and atmosphere of yesteryear. Apart from the must-see sights like the Rozenhoedkaai, the Beguinage, the Minnewater and the Grote Markt, the city also boasts countless intimate corners, authentic squares and tranquil green oases that provide a retreat for those seeking some peace and quiet. Through the lens of photographer Selina De Maeyer, the essence of Bruges comes to life. Her evocative photographs capture the city in all its bustling vibrancy, its occasional weariness, and even moments of wistfulness. They offer a poetic glimpse into the soul of the city and take us on a journey from the iconic hotspots to the hidden gems.
Text in English, French and Dutch.
Leave the Light on is Annelore Desmet’s tribute to women. Her captivating images are like poetry without words, but their beauty goes beyond the pretty picture. Suggestive and mysterious, these photographs tell a compelling story of authenticity, seduction and feminine power. Annelore Desmet knows better than anyone that beauty is more than skin deep. With her trusted camera and light as her sole ally, she manages to meticulously capture every model’s essence, uniqueness and energy. For Annelore, photography is more than a craft. It is an intuitive journey wherein she completely surrenders to her instincts and embraces the moment. Or, as Henri Cartier-Bresson once said: “It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head.”
Text in English and Dutch.
Guerel Sahin, one of the pioneers of the young outdoor photography movement, presents an exclusive selection with teNeues: Discover his handpicked natural and photographic treasures amidst the breathtaking mountain landscape of the Dolomites, in South Tyrol and the Dolomites.
Among the featured highlights are natural wonders such as Val Gardena, Passo Gardena, Seiser Alm, Passo Sella, Cir Spitze, Langental, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Cadini Di Misurina, Lago di Braies, Puez Odle Nature Park, Seceda, Platt and Langkofel, Plätzwiese, Antorno Lake, Stevia, Passo Giao, or Lago Di Sorapis. Sahin personally introduces each of these locations, shares valuable tips for the perfect photo, and succinctly provides alpine basic information on accessing each spot. An overview map provides a quick reference.
The breath of nature in breathtaking landscapes: Sahin’s lens brings the landscape to life with the whisper of mountain air, creating an enchanting symphony of untouched wilderness. Immerse yourself in incredibly atmospheric, sometimes dark photography that brings dreams of real adventure, untamed terrain, and boundless freedom to life.
Text in English and German.
The myth of a wild, untouched landscape is persistent in American history. Imaginary wilds helped define an American identity in the early nineteenth century when Thomas Cole produced a series of masterwork paintings of American landscapes. And today the myth of imaginary wilds continues to have a major influence on attitudes toward landscape, nature, and the use of resources extracted from the earth. This book presents a series of student-designed architectural projects for a new gallery building sited within the landscape of Cedar Grove, Thomas Cole’s historic home and studio in Catskill, New York. Cole’s artistic legacy can be interpreted in different ways because he was concerned with landscapes and nature as both material and ideal conditions. Complexities arising from considering landscapes and nature as both real and ideal create a productive frame for exploring how architects might design buildings in relation to landscapes and nature. Throughout the book, these relationships are seen to play out in five different directions under the guidance of five different design studio instructors. The architectural projects presented here are contextualised in relation to landscape, nature, and Thomas Cole’s artistic legacy in a series of essays by a distinguished group of designers and thinkers.
“I have an old camera with which I have taken countless photographs of myself. It often produces astonishing effects”, Edvard Munch states in a 1930 interview. “Someday when I am old and have nothing better to do than work on an autobiography, all my photographic self-portraits will see the light of day again.” The autobiography was never realised, but the self-portraits have found their way to the pages of The Experimental Self. The Photography of Edvard Munch, which demonstrates the fundamentally experimental nature of the artist’s photographic practice. As a photographer, Munch embraced the freedom provided by the amateur position, and the unpredictable aspects of analogue photographic technology. By playfully approaching his own image in picture after picture, Munch extends his explorations of self-hood in other media through photography. The resulting photographs provide unique access to Munch’s radical artistic vision, which this book studies through eminent essays by Patricia G. Berman, Tom Gunning and MaryClaire Pappas.
Star and Moon presents the daily life of the Hui people and expresses a kind of “emptiness” that transcends time and meaning. Lonely, mysterious, quiet and elegant, the simple images are like a faded postcard, bringing a deep Zen feeling to the heart. At first glance, the images of Star and Moon are plain and seemingly picturesque. However, if you sit quietly for a moment and feel the breath conveyed by the black and white shadows, you will experience a heavy breath running through it, adsorbing the viewer’s eyes tightly, following the photographer’s lens in the cycle of the stars and the moon, experiencing the destiny of the Islamic nation together.
Yang Yankang expands the scope of experimental exploration of the language of modern Chinese photography, and creates a revelatory way of perceiving the art of practical photography. His works on the three major religions have historically placed them in a prominent position in the history of modern Chinese art, and he has become one of the leading photographic artists in China and even in the world.
Step into a captivating world where the lens becomes a storyteller, and architectural marvels and interior masterpieces unfold with mesmerising clarity.
For the first time ever, this book brings together 50 of the world’s best photographers specialising in architecture and interior design and showcases each one through portraits, interviews and a handpicked selection of their best images to date.
In Focus is not just a book; it’s a visual odyssey paying homage to the world’s most exceptional architecture and interiors photographers.
As the curated collection unveils the unique perspectives of each photographer, from the play of light on architectural structures to the intimate details of curated living spaces, readers are invited to witness the convergence of art and functionality. This tribute encapsulates the essence of architectural and interior photography, showcasing the visionaries who have dedicated their craft to immortalising the soul of spaces.
No country, apart from India, is as closely allied with the Buddha’s travels as Sri Lanka, which was visited thrice by the Buddha and received corporal relics and a branch of the bodhi tree after his death. Today the Buddha’s eye-tooth is venerated daily by thousands in Kandy and regarded as a priceless relic.
Buddhism is not the only religion to have influence the island, as another major pilgrimage spot is Kataragama, a site devoted to a Hindu God, while Christianity and Islam are also part of the mix. From Europe, the Portuguese, Dutch, and English added new spiritual layers in a colonial period that stretched nearly three centuries. As a result, understanding the country, through the lens of sacred sites provides a special glimpse into this unique civilisation.
Calder. Sculpting Time explores the profound and transformative impact of one of the 20th century’s most revolutionary artists through a focused lens. Alexander Calder (1898–1976) changed the way we perceive and interact with sculpture by introducing the fourth dimension of time into art with his legendary mobiles — a term coined by Marcel Duchamp that refers to both “motion” and “motive” in French — and by exploring volumes and voids in his stabiles, christened by Jean Arp for his stationary objects.
This catalogue includes over 30 masterworks made between 1930 and 1960 — Calder’s most innovative, prolific years — from his early abstractions or sphériques to a magnificent selection of mobiles, stabiles, and standing mobiles of various scales. It also features a large body of Calder’s Constellations, a term proposed by Duchamp and James Johnson Sweeney for the artist’s beloved objects made from wood and wire in 1943, a time when sheet metal was in short supply due to World War II.