In the third decade of the 21st century, we are witnessing an unprecedented exploration of female sexual power, while on the other hand reactionary cultural forces contrive to keep women as defenceless as possible. In this context, the work of photographer Alejandra Guerrero can be understood as a clarion call. Hers is a rarefied visual art that marks a turning point for female sexuality in erotica, her eloquent tableaux revealing the intricate ways in which women exert their erotic power. Here we see a future in which women dictate raw, yet refined desires. Each moment comes from the erotic fever dreams of the participants and the desires of the woman behind the camera.
Guerrero grew up against a backdrop of sleek automobiles. As a child she would sit in the driver’s seat of her mother’s Mercedes and dream of one day being in control of such an elegant machine. Her father was a mechanical engineer whose hobby was fixing up cool cars, and she would watch him at work, taking in the details of fins and fenders. It sparked a fascination, which became an adult passion, which eventually inspired an entire body of work. Auto Erotica is Guerrero’s second monograph with Circa and follows Wicked Women down the same electrifying road.

In a series of color-saturated, dream-like, hallucinatory images taken at night, this second book in a trilogy by Kolkata-based photographer Arko Datto explores the shifting world of nature, society, and politics in Malaysia and Indonesia. Over the course of 4 years, he has captured both people and animals in confrontation with the changing urban environments they live in, with the subtext of the politics that made this change possible. In a place that used to be considered a tropical paradise, over- development and property speculation have forced residents out and have created deserts of empty real estate where neither locals nor animal life can thrive. SNAKEFIRE is dedicated to this paradise that has been lost to unmediated human greed and ponders the costs of untrammeled consumption. 

They Must Fall: Muhammad Ali and the Men He Fought features powerful and often moving images and stories of Muhammad Ali and the men he fought in the ring, by award-winning photographer Michael Brennan.

“Around 1978, I had been in Houston, Texas photographing former Ali opponent George Foreman who had then reinvented himself as a roadside preacher. On the plane back to NYC, I thought, ‘If that’s what George is doing, I wonder what the rest of his opponents are up to?’ I set out to track down as many of the old guys as I could find.”

Brennan spent decades locating Ali’s former opponents to discover what had become of them. This unique book is a look through Brennan’s remarkable archive, containing numerous never-before- seen photos plus poignant stories illuminating the images and contextualizing Ali’s powerful role in the world of sport. Includes a special introductory essay by the late, great Jimmy Breslin.

“Michael Brennan’s iconic 1977 portrait photograph of Muhammad Ali captures something far bigger and deeper than just the beautiful face of a beautiful man. It is a detailed map of the personal journey of one whose incomparable talents and audacity caused literati to swoon, taught a generation to question authority, and ultimately altered the path of a society which had never before seen a man exactly like him. To look at him the way he was then is to remember, with joy and sorrow, who we all once were.” – Jim Lampley, discussing the cover image (Boxing commentator, HBO Sports)

Helena Calmfors is a New York-based artist and performer whose work is inspired by the archetype of the dominant woman. It is a role with which she identifies and yet gently subverts by introducing ‘soft’ elements such as flowers into the typically ‘hard’ aesthetic vocabulary of domination. Central to her work is the feminist belief in the right to own one’s body; she also explores the theme of reclaiming identity through hierarchical power play. The act of creating intimate scenes and experiences is present in all aspects of her art, ranging from performance to watercolor paintings, and digital and Polaroid photography. She uses instant photography as a way of representing the ephemerality of performance and the fleeting intimacy of the dominant/submissive relationship. With an introduction by the Indian-American artist, Ankita Mishra, Forget Me Not is Calmfors’ debut monograph.

Chicago has long been a world leader in innovations of all kinds, and its response to the need for drastic environmental action to combat climate change is no exception. In 2008, Chicago developed the Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP) to begin to address these issues. This book is an examination and exploration of the issues that the CCAP deals with and how they may be implemented, focusing on the Chicago Loop area. It also examines the 2030 Challenge, which has an aggressive goal of 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 for new and renovated buildings.

The book is divided into eight key areas: Buildings, the Urban Matrix, Smart Infrastructure, Mobility, Water, Waste, Community Engagement and Energy. Illustrated with full colour photographs, diagrams and models throughout, this wonderful book takes a clear and easy-to-understand approach to this complex topic, providing innovative and insightful strategies for efficient and effective carbon reduction.

“Iconographic images from Berlin are well known and in different tonalities: Sarah Eick now succeeds in the great feat that still demands admiration even from Urberliner:innen who have seen a great many photographs of their hometown: her photos undoubtedly reproduce Berlin motifs, but at the same time they are works of a great, translocal, abstract-poetic quality.

Peculiarly contextless, almost like UFOs, the familiar buildings and city views appear. Without any form of historicizing or nostalgic pathos, Eick gives them great dignity. “Even a snack booth looks sublime in her work.” – Tanja Dückers, writer, publicist and art historian.

Well-known places, whether Fehrbelliner Platz, Kino International, the water circulation tank at the zoo, the Charité high-rise, the Old Congress Hall or Teufelsberg, are always unpopulated in her work. One has hardly ever seen Berlin like this. This bare representation makes the city appear different.

Text in English and German.

The Homes that Shaped Us is the first monograph on the work by Park + Associates, showcasing a selection of the renowned Singaporean firm’s award-winning houses. Singapore’s residential architectural scene is notable for blending futuristic design with sustainable practices and cultural influences. For over 25 years, Park + Associates has been quietly earning praise and plaudits for designing houses that stand out for their architectural innovation, yet which are very much designed as family homes. The studio’s bespoke designs respond to context, lifestyle, and the client’s own ideas. The firm is noted for designing for the tropical climate of Singapore, with emphasis on natural light, cooling effects of water and including beautiful green spaces. The houses showcased in this stunning monograph document the evolution of the firm since its inception in 1999, provide valuable insight into its work, and reflect the joy the Park + Associates team finds in designing homes. Each project is illustrated with beautiful photography and detailed floor plans and elevations. This book is a valuable and inspirational resource for anyone interested in architecture and design, with particular reference to tropical climates and modern contemporary comfort.

The Classicist is an annual journal dedicated to the classical tradition in architecture and the allied arts. Focused on Chicago, the Classicist No. 16 explores the city’s rich architectural history as well as contemporary examples of classical design through professional and student portfolios as well as academic articles authored by leaders within the field. Contributors include Guest Editors Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker of Cohen & Hacker Architects; Ann Lorenz Van Zanten, the first Curator of Architecture at the Chicago Historical Society; Jeanne Sylvester, founder of Sylvester Historic Consultants, LLC; Rolf Achilles, architectural historian and member of the board of the Richard H. Driehaus Museum and the Hegeler Carus Mansion; David Van Zanten, professor emeritus at Northerwestern University; Edward Keegan, architect and writer; and Aric Lasher, president and director of design at HBRA Architects.

From cars made of carrot to tea-smuggling spies; Popeye’s spinach to the hallucinogenic effects of lettuce, renowned garden expert Chris Beardshaw takes us on a journey though history’s most fascinating plants, flowers, vegetables and herbs: the ones that changed the world, the ones that almost did, and the ones that certainly didn’t! Ranging from Roman times to present day and even covering future plant-inventions, 100 Plants that (almost) changed the World is a fascinating compendium of stories about the plants and vegetables we see, nurture and consume every day. If you have ever wondered why carrots are supposed to help you see in the dark or why we hang fairy lights and decorations on our Christmas trees then this is the book for you a fun and quirky new volume that offers unique exploration of our planets most fascinating plants.

India, Jewels that Enchanted the World presents for the first time the remarkable history and unique legacy of 500 years of Indian jewelry, from the 17th century to the present. The essays, all written by leading international scholars, explore the rich, distinctive, and unique heritage of Indian jewelry; the striking boldness of South Indian ornaments; the delicate refinement of the Mughal period; the dazzling jewels of the post-Mughal maharajas; the cross-cultural influences between Europe and India in the 19th and early 20th centuries; and the creations of leading contemporary designers whose jewels display the enduring beauty of Indian design and craftsmanship.

Published to accompany a major exhibition at the State Museums of the Moscow Kremlin organized jointly with the Indo-Russian Jewellery Foundation, this lavishly illustrated catalog brings together royal, ceremonial, and personal Indian jewels to showcase the entire range and variety of the jeweler’s art in India.

Maps that Made History is like a 1000-year-long journey around the world; every one of the carefully selected maps featured here has influenced the course of history in some way. This beautifully illustrated book gathers 100 marvelous old maps, each with a fascinating story to tell, from a 12th century Persian world atlas to a Soviet spy map. These maps were used to resolve conflicts, situate battles, construct a road or a canal, establish important shipping routes, even as propaganda tools. All the maps are reproduced in an oversized format, while accompanying text from an experienced team of historians explains the importance of each one.

In times of global crises, architecture must also seek new sustainable approaches to climatic and social challenges. Designed by Kashef Chowdhury / Urbana, the Friendship Hospital in southern Bangladesh can be regarded as pioneering in this respect. The hospital, which was awarded the 2022 RIBA International Prize, provides life-saving healthcare, as well as enhancing the identity of a coastal region that has been devastated by cyclones and soil salinisation as a result of rising sea levels.
Constructed in local brickwork, the architecture collects the valuable rainwater and uses the wind for natural cooling, while subtly interacting with specific characteristics of the world’s largest river delta. It also applies universal architectural means such as space, light and proportions to ensure the well-being of patients and the people close to them.
A profound architectural stance developed out of the geography and history of the local context makes this work globally relevant. This book, which includes a photo essay by Hélène Binet, presents plans, diagrams and model photos that offer insight into the design and construction process in one of the world’s most climate-affected regions.

Things That Cannot Be Put Into Words is an artist’s book written by Marie-Sophie Beinke and published by M-S B Verlag and HOPPER&FUCHS (originally published in German in 2021 by M-S B Verlag) and five translations of the same book as paperback editions. This publishing project consists of a mainly blank book, open to every possible idea and image. Things, that cannot be put into words: What has disappeared, the snatched away, the absent, the nothingness, the void are made present. Space for the thinkable, where words fail. An artist’s book that openly invites readers to critical thinking, dialogue and debate.

Working from his Urbana practice in Bangladesh, Kashef Chowdhury designs architecture that is rooted in the history and nature of its location – whereby the latter also relates to a spiritual and cultural level. This explains his fascination for Kahn’s parliamentary building in Dhaka, which inspired this volume of photo essays.

Kahn’s design is characterized by an innovative architectural language that combines western and eastern traditions, forms and materials. For instance, in view of the great importance of water in Bengali tradition, he placed the building complex by an artificial lake. Furthermore, although it is defined by strict geometrical forms, the parliamentary building reflects the transcendental nature of the National Assembly, defining the hopeful founding years of the independent state of Bangladesh.

A Red that Sings brings together three great colorists (James Ensor, Rik Wouters, and Jules Schmalzigaug) in a dazzling celebration of color. At the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, which houses the largest collection of their works, vermilion reds, intense blues, and vivid yellows shine, revealing the vibrant visual language they created. Ensor composed “unbelievable chords of color,” Wouters let bright red accents dictate the rhythm of his compositions, and Schmalzigaug reintroduced the ‘singing red,’ inspired by the Baroque emotion of Rubens. The book shows how these artists transcended the soft palette of Impressionism, turning color into a symphony of rhythm, emotion, and sound. Complemented by masterpieces from contemporaries like Adolphe Monticelli, A Red that Sings invites readers to experience these modern masters as they themselves painted the world: at a pitch that sings, vibrates, and resonates.

How can you stay relevant for your customers? The answer is a combination of the following three factors: technology, personal involvement and social commitment. The past ten years have been marked by the arrival of 4G, mobile services, and robotics. These technologies have brought about a revolution in the field of customer experience and in the future, this will evolve even further. As a company, you will have to take a more active part in the personal life journey of your customers. This opens up the opportunity to tackle, together with your customer, concrete social world problems, including climate change, mobility, and health care. Customers increasingly seek out companies that do good for both themselves, and the world.

As part of a personal quest, director Hermann Vaske explored the genius behind the world’s most intriguing artists and thinkers for over 30 years. His interview partners include over 1000 luminaries, among them Academy Award and Nobel Prize winners, from the fields of visual art, music, acting, philosophy, politics, business and science, posing the question: “Why are you creative?”

All of the participants also created an artefact for the project — some very personal, some bizarre. Following the success of exhibitions across Europe, now, 100 of the most interesting, fascinating answers are compiled in this book.

Skiing connects people. Based on this motto, graphic designer Peter Erlach had an idea in 2022: a quartet and mini travel guide presenting 32 legendary ski resorts and slopes, accompanied by the most important facts and figures. The selection of the 32 ski resorts is based both on the personal memories of the author, who grew up skiing in Austria, and on the destinations that are still on his wish list. Each ski area is presented on a map with a meaningful photo and all the important key data. This makes it easy to discover 32 of the most beautiful and spectacular ski areas. Accompanying it there is a booklet, which deals still more in detail with the ski areas, and special attention lies also on the quality of the photos. All photographers are listed with their name and website, so you can also discover other impressive winter sports photographs.

This star I give to you is the first publication on the work of London-based artist Freya Douglas-Morris, presenting a body of paintings exploring the poetry, beauty and magic of landscapes and the natural world.

The book documents the artist’s first solo exhibition of the same name at Alexander Berggruen, New York, in 2023, and showcases the eight large oil paintings on canvas and five oil paintings on copper that were on display. This star I give to you includes a conversation between the artist and British publisher Matt Price, a foreword by New York-based writer and Associate Director at Alexander Berggruen, Kirsten Cave, along with studio notes by the artist on each of the reproduced works.

A graduate of the University of Brighton and the Royal College of Art, London, Douglas-Morris has exhibited internationally in China, Taiwan, The Bahamas, Austria, Italy, France and America.

A gem of a book that stays with you long after you have finished it. Edvard Munch wrote continuously; letters, diaries, literary texts and other notes. In Like a Ghost I Leave You you will find striking statements about art versus nature, enemies, money, death and much more. – “Had I been in Possession of the as yet undiscovered little Remote telephone which one carries around in one’s Pocket You would have long ago received Communications from me”- Undated draft of a letter to Jens Willumsen.

Through a selection of Edvard Munch works the Norwegian award-winning author Lene Ask invites children of all ages to draw and be creative together with Munch. The book has texts by Ask accompanied by exercises that are related to Munch’s way of experimenting and encourage children to participate in the wonderful world of Munch’s art. Design by Aslak Gurholt, one of Norway’s most renowned and award-winning book designers.

Ages 8+