The Jewish Journey tells the history of the Jewish people from antiquity to modern times through 22 objects from the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, brought together here for the first time. Many of the objects are little-known treasures and all 22 have remarkable stories. Spanning 4000 years of history and covering 14 different countries, the objects trace the evolution of Jewish life and culture from its earliest beginnings in Ancient Mesopotamia through time and space to the modern day.

Sidsel Ramson was born in Norway in 1937. She received her education in Copenhagen, at the University of California, Berkeley, and in Paris. Her special gift for quickly bonding with people has allowed her to take photos in situations where others would have been refused; she has an ability to glide in and out of people’s daily lives, without disturbing them. She works in the tradition of “concerned photography” established by Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson and David Seymour. She currently lives and works in France and Denmark. Contents:
Foreword by Jean-Clarence Lambert Israel – 1972-1988 : Jerusalem – Gaza – Falasha – School children – Golan Heights Everyday Heroes by Trine Ross China – 1978 Peru – 1981 Haiti 1981-1982 Bali – 1993 Burma – 1994 Greece – 1979 Dominica – 1989 Egypt – 2001-2002

The most recent project of Magnum photographer Carl De Keyzer; a sharp image of Congo as it is today. De Keyzer has visited places that were tourist hotspots before their independence and thus shows us the remains of the Belgian presence in modern Congo. Carl De Keyzer travelled through Congo for over 10 months to make this book, often in very dangerous areas. This has resulted in a unique documentary with an historic meaning.

Archaeological objects offer outstanding opportunities to explore the way people conceived life in past ages. Their study demonstrates that subjects such as fertility, myths, rituals and cosmogony are embedded in all man-made artefacts, as they have always been part of daily human life. Even when creating artefacts for individual use, we have adopted imaginative and ingenious ways to represent and convey a message, a narrative that is a facet of our personal and social identity. That’s why the amulets presented in this outstanding catalogue hold secrets: memories of deeds, lands and sacred representations. Objects used as offerings are full of life: the warrior recalls his heroic condition during his long mortal journey; the deceased person, who travels to the other world equipped with his objects of power, arrives satisfied and disposed to be generous toward his descendants, who receive fertility and well-being in return.

The choice of materials is a fundamental aspect of such objects. The use of metals, for example, is etched into the language of social communication, whereas the vital force that moves the universe is found immersed to a large degree in magical materials like fired clay, the product of extensive chemical transformation, or shell, a product of the sea, its brilliance a sign of spirituality, or imperishable gold, which is the embodiment of the Sun itself, ductile and able to express extraordinary religious ideas.

This catalogue introduces us to this world of magic, life and death.

Text in English and Spanish.

In the seventh century the great T’ang nation was obliged to reconquer the southern most portion of what had been considered Chinese territory for many centuries. The region had in fact remained largely an unassimilated wilderness, whose heavily forested marshes – monsoon lands with fringes of the true tropics – corresponded roughly with modern North Vietnam, along with the Chinese provinces of Guangxi and Guangdong. The Vermilion Bird attempts to recover the actual character of the monsoon realms of T’ang: a scattering of palisaded garrisons, isolated monasteries, and commercial towns, all surrounded by dark, haunted woods. The soldiers, administrators, colonists, and political exiles who lived there were constantly threatened by hostile inhabitants, disease, wild animals, and supernatural powers. On the other hand there were new and beautiful flowering plants and luscious fruits for the delectation of the connoisseur, enchanting limestone grottoes ready to be explored, and every sort of ravishing image available for the exploitation of poets. Professor Schafer examines the thoughts, emotions, imaginations, and daily lives of the men.

Vietnam and its people come alive in this visual journey beyond headlines and preconceptions. From village huts to the neon bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, engaging and riveting images present a Vietnam where tradition still thrives in a changing social landscape, where the bonds of community and family, to ancestors and to the land, remain defining constants. We see Vietnam at work, in rice fields and on city streets, at play and in prayer, and at family and communal rituals of life and death. Vietnamese poems, prose, and proverbs dating back eight centuries evocatively underscore the continuities amidst change, while Jeffrey Hantover’s lucid text offers social and cultural context to the lives so warmly portrayed. Vietnam Images does not pull back from the toil and struggle of daily Vietnamese life, yet surprises with its broad embrace of a people sustained by tradition and alive to the promises of the future.

Instagram is more popular than ever before. Over 80 million new photos are posted daily on this social networking site. How to pick the very best of them? We have done so for you! The funniest pictures of cats, the most surprising places and arty portraits: you will discover them in a beautifully designed, thematic book that also contains inspirational quotes. Also available: Insta Grammar: Cats ISBN 9789401436953 Insta Grammar: Nordic ISBN 9789401436946

Instagram is a simple, fun and creative way to capture and share photos, videos & messages with friends & family with over 80 million new photos posted daily. The Insta Grammar series steers clear of all clichés and shows you the most interesting corners of the best photography inspired by graphic design. Each photo is a hand-picked thematic selection of the best and most inspiring photos Instagram has to offer accompanied by inspirational quotes. Now you can bring the best of Instagram your coffee table, office or share a creative gift with a friend in this beautiful gift book series Bound in a unique ‘lay flat’ format for optimal viewing pleasure. Insta Grammar: Green celebrates all of the ways green colors our lives, from moody forests and desert cacti to still life paintings and abstract photography in this collection of nature favorites from Instagram. Over 100 images are paired with wisdom from Khalil Gibran, Lao Tzu, and Henry David Thoreau. An ideal gift book for the green-thumbed, the nature-lover, outdoor enthusiast or just about anyone for whom green equals life!

Instagram is a simple, fun and creative way to capture and share photos, videos & messages with friends & family with over 80 million new photos posted daily. The Insta Grammar series steers clear of all clichés and shows you the most interesting corners of the best photography inspired by graphic design. Each photo is a hand-picked thematic selection of the best and most inspiring photos Instagram has to offer accompanied by inspirational quotes. Now you can bring the best of Instagram your coffee table, office or share a creative gift with a friend in this beautiful gift book series Bound in a unique ‘lay flat’ format for optimal viewing pleasure. Insta Grammar: Unicorn inspires the magical life in this collection of popular unicorn photography from Instagram featuring the elusive, mythical creature that fires the imagination. Here are over one hundred photographs taken from all over Instagram featuring a variety of colors, shapes, and settings. From the ice-cream colors of storybook fantasies to unicorn dogs and unicorn cats; from unicorn street art to fantastical photographs: this is the gift book for anyone who loves a touch of whimsy, humor, and, yes, sparkles in their life.

The popular Insta Grammar series comprises the most beautiful – and interesting – thematic photos on Instagram, presented in a fresh, pleasing package at an affordable price. After Cats, City, Nordic and Green comes Graphic and Insta Grammar Dogs. The motto is: graphic design is the new art, and dogs are the new cats. Graphic includes the work of up and coming designers; Dogs includes, well, dogs. Off-beat and appealing, the books in this growing series take the doubt out of choosing the perfect gift for millennials. Quotes, sometimes quirky but always apt, are sprinkled throughout. Insta Grammar Cats ISBN 9789401436953 Insta Grammar: Nordic ISBN 9789401436946 Insta Grammar: City ISBN 9789401436915 Insta Grammar: Green ISBN 9789401440554 Insta Grammar: Graphic ISBN 9789401441599

“Belgian solutions is first of all a title, that became a way of speaking: ‘Look, a Belgian solution.’ It all started with me stopping to take pictures of situations that I later began publishing on Facebook under this title. After some time people were sending me more and more photos, not only from Belgium of course, but from all over the globe, pictures that in very different and individual ways always kept saying: ‘Look, a Belgian solution.’ or simply: ‘Look, a solution.'” David Helbich Not every solution is an answer to a problem. The Brussels-based artist David Helbich started collecting ‘Belgian Solutions’ in 2006. Once he started to share his photos online on Facebook in 2008 (the Belgian Solutions page has over 23,000 fans), the project gathered speed, with contributions by Belgian Solutions spotters all over the world. Luster is publishing the third, updated and improved edition of the original publication.

The Brussels-based artist David Helbich started collecting Belgian Solutions in 2006; he made photos of the peculiar and sometimes hilarious, no-nonsense solutions that he spotted in his daily surroundings. Once he started to share his photos online on Facebook in 2008 (the Belgian Solutions page has over 25,000 fans), the project gathered speed, with contributions by ‘Belgian Solutions’ spotters all over the world. And because Helbich keeps receiving pictures, he keeps creating content – much to the joy of his fans. Also available: Belgian Solutions 1 ISBN 9789460581571

Handmade and handcrafted objects are a part of daily life in Gujarat. The crafts of Gujarat demonstrate the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature and offer meaningful lessons in sustainable living for future generations. The ingenious use of natural and locally available materials is combined with a unique aesthetic, bringing together form and function in each magnificent product. With simple tools, adherence to norms set by tradition and with their imagination, the artisans of Gujarat have embodied human potential. Traditional skills are now applied to create products for the contemporary world, demonstrating convincingly that natural and handmade products are adaptable over time, and, that tradition continues to be relevant in modern times.

This publication emanates from an exhibition by the same title, displayed for the first time at the Alliance Française de Delhi. It is an attempt to trace the development of photography and the other allied visual arts in Pondicherry spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Drawn exclusively from The Alkazi Collection of Photography, at the core of this initiative is the unpublished album by renowned photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, co-founder of Magnum Photos, who visited the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in April 1950. He took the last pictures of Sri Aurobindo Ghose in the company of his spiritual companion, the Mother. In addition, he meticulously penned his observations almost daily, creating a meta-text around the images, which presents a biographical and anecdotal supplement for his photographic endeavour. The visual material is further enhanced by some extraordinary images of Indian photographers from the same period such as Tara Jauhar and Venkatesh Shirodkar at Aurobindo Ashram, published here for the first time.

In this catalogue a conscious effort has been made to bring out a non-linear, yet credible history of how Pondicherry has been witness to the development of a unique visual trajectory. The use of images as evidence and document create a subtle interplay between cultural context and artistic intent, a conceptual linking of mannerisms and tropes those of landscape, architectural and portrait photography.

Kashmir is a distinct region that has yet to be fully explored. The authors ‘tell’ human stories visually, against an awe inspiring natural backdrop. Their compelling and magical pictorial journey ushers the reader through the Valley, celebrating the ethereal beauty and the cultural diversity of this exotic land, as well as marking the shades of change and transition. It is a book painted with the lesser known colors, embracing the layers and textures which lie beyond the known dimensions of Kashmir. Breathtaking photographs in varying shades and angles, supported by well-researched relevant text, are the tools to communicate to the reader the sense of a classical Kashmir. This is a land with an inherent rich culture, and Alluring Kashmir sets its exotic landscapes against unfamiliar facts and fables, and the intimate aspects of daily life. The reader becomes part of a thriving society, which is waiting to match steps with the rest of the world despite huge challenges.

A fascinating account of British reporter Willem Marx’s travels in Balochistan; a forbidding, forbidden and largely forgotten province of Pakistan that is currently immersed in civil conflict. French photojournalist Marc Wattrelot has captured some spectacular images during his weeks spent in this little-known corner of the world. This book presents many aspects of Balochistan – its past and present, its people and landscape.

An amazing insight into this formidable region that is rarely seen by the outside world; a remote territory, this account gives a new perspective on a harsh and unforgiving landscape and the people who call it home.

Madhubani art’s origin is believed to go back to the ancient era of the Ramayana, when the town was decorated by inhabitants of the region for the wedding of Lord Rama and Sita with elaborate wall paintings and murals. The philosophy of Madhubani art is essentially based on the principle of dualism. The artscape appears inundated with divine deities, the sun and moon, and flora and fauna along with features found in Buddhism, Islamic Sufism, tantric symbols and classical Hinduism. Primarily a significant socio-cultural engagement for the womenfolk of Bihar, this art was a welcome break from their daily drudgery. Immersed in the folklore of Mithila, fresh forms and figures are painted and repainted on walls and floors of their homes to mark special occasions. Well-established procedures are followed and techniques are passed on from one generation to the next, keeping the ephemeral art form and ancestral tradition and its lore alive. Madhubani artists today are seen to work more with brushes and acrylic paint rather than natural dyes and pigments. They now also work on paper, cloth, canvas and wood to create art and artifacts, besides painting on walls and floors. Contents: Foreword by H.E.M.S. Puri, Ambassador of India in Belgium; Preface by Martin Gurvich; Imaging the Divine: Artscape of Bharati Dayal by Sushma K Bahl; Krishna; Shiva; Ganesha; Devi; The Mahabharata Nature; Bharati Dayal.

“If a picture can speak 1,000 words, then author and photographer Thom Gilbert s Soul: Memphis Original Sound is comparable to an encyclopedia.” Jay Z ‘s Life +Times
“Gilbert’s lens captured the songwriters, engineers, musicians, producers and others who had a hand in creating and shaping the Memphis sound of music.” Memphis Daily News
The book’s mission is to document the legends of the Memphis soul music business. Photographer Thom Gilbert set up a photo studio at Royal Studios in Memphis, home of the famed Hi Records that launched the careers of Al Green, Ann Peebles, and dozens of others. The studio’s “green room” was filled with soul music royalty: Bobby “Blue” Bland in his signature nautical cap, several of the Hodges brothers who make up the incomparable Hi Rhythm Section were on hand, Stax Records musicians Bobby Manuel, Lester Snell were there actually working on a recording, but pausing to have their portraits taken. Gilbert has captured images of what seems like every living person related to Memphis soul music. From Rev. Jesse Jackson, who recorded spoken word albums on Stax’s Respect Records label, to Sam Moore of the indelible soul duo Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Steve Cropper, B.B. King, Bobby Rush, and many others, including the lesser known but equally vital session players, writers, engineers, publicists who contributed to what is now world renowned as The Memphis Sound.

Spirit of the Amazon is the work of photojournalist Sue Cunningham and writer Patrick Cunningham. It is a celebration of cultural difference and a call for better stewardship of the world. Sue’s stunning photographs demonstrate the spiritual and material value of the Xingu tribes to all mankind; they keep the forest alive and they protect the climate of South America and the rest of the world. Their spiritual connection to their environment and the wider Earth shows us an alternative way to connect to the natural richness of the planet, built on foundations completely different from those of global materialism. During their expedition by boat, the authors followed the course of the Xingu river, a tributary of the Amazon, traveling 2,500 km through the heart of Brazil. They visited forty-eight tribal villages in this remote part of the Amazon, accessible only by small plane or by negotiating the rapids of the Xingu. This is the story of the tribal communities they met; their daily lives, their connection to the land and to the rivers, the threats which pervade each day of their lives. It is also a validation of their importance to the rest of the world; why these small, remote and often secretive indigenous communities are so important to our own lives and to our shared planet. It is a celebration of their vibrant cultures, their rituals and their rites of passage, of cultures very different from each other, but with a shared spiritual basis which respects the trees, the rivers and the rain. And it is a call for the world to protect them, their lands and their forests and rivers from the destruction which our avaricious greed for natural resources drives ever closer and deeper into their realm.

A celebration of one of the most universally recognizable and beloved objects of our daily lives, Spoon showcases hundreds of spoons from author Daniel Rozensztroch’s personal collection. Obsessively collected over the course of several years, there are spoons made of wood, glass, mother of pearl, bone, metal, horn, porcelain, enamel, and ceramic, as well as spoons by artists, vintage spoons, rare one-of-a-kind museum quality pieces to the typical spoon of our everyday life that can be found in homes all over the world. The spoon as an object transcends all cultures. With high-quality photography by Francis Amiand and fine Italian printing, the book is perfect for collectors and lovers of everyday objects.

Tham ma da Thai for everyday is exactly Italian architect and designer Paola Navone s approach: translating the ordinary into the surprising. Her global travels especially in India and Africa inform her work, whether residences in France and Italy, the Metropolitan Hotel by Como in Miami, or the Rooftop Bar in Chicago. She has also partnered with major brands such as Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, Alessi, Gervasoni, Baxter, and Cappellini. Navone s work is widely covered in international publications, including Dwell, Interior Design Magazine, Elle Décor, Surface, and Food & Wine, among others. Her blend of colors, materials and motifs is playful yet sophisticated; fresh yet dignified and always a revelation

For over ten years, Anna Maria Kupper has been keeping a diary of images. The camera is the sculptor’s daily companion. She uses it to pursue her own obsession with observation, “viewing” the world and capturing its images. In doing so, she achieves a special resonance that can enhance the moment. The process is akin to the search for a tone, for things that leave an impression, a memory in one’s mind.

In the volume’s 220 images compiled as a diary, people play an important role. They create an equilibrium with the photos of landscapes, urban spaces, buildings and interiors. That balance transforms both motifs into allegories of one’s own life that pervade the book in a serious, cheerful or sometimes melancholy mood.

Text in German.