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.

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.

Bobogyi: A Burmese Spiritual Figure is the first book dedicated to this Burmese nat, or guardian spirit, who features prominently in contemporary Burma (Myanmar). From an ethereal tree spirit to an established guardian at pagodas, the book examines the various trajectories of this ubiquitous figure. In the former capital of Yangon, bobogyi has been one of the main actors in the city’s Buddhist landscape, beginning with the founding legend of the iconic Shwedagon Pagoda through his growing prominence since the 1990s following the city’s recent urban expansion. With essays from two prominent scholars and a selection of detailed photographs that document the daily activities of worship and maintenance at bobogyi shrines, this charming book chronicles the history and modern-day relevance of bobogyi and also charts the ever-evolving nature of sacred narratives.

Defining a distinct style of painting produced in India during the British period and influenced by European artistic norms, this catalogue of Company Paintings in the TAPI (Textiles & Art of the People of India) Collection is a unique illustration of the social milieu prevailing in India in the nineteenth century. Tracing the origins and evolution of this genre of painting, the volume shines a fresh beam on subjects commissioned to be painted by officials of the East India Company, such as occupations, customs, dress, bazaars, festivals and daily life of ordinary people, a world removed from the elite and princely environment that was the chosen subject of Indian miniature artists. The catalogue of the TAPI Collection of Company Paintings highlights works from the major regions where such paintings were produced – Murshidabad, Calcutta, Patna, Lucknow, Delhi, Punjab, Kutch, Tanjore, Trichinopoly, Madras, Kerala and the Andhra Coast. It comprises a rich and accurate record of the diverse modes of dress and manners of the people before the advent of photography. This catalogue documents the first-ever exhibition on the subject to be held in India, being a collaboration between TAPI and CSMVS (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, formerly the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India).

Has there ever been an American decorator as famous as Dorothy Draper? Like Martha Stewart, Draper was a preacher and teacher whose how-to books and Good Housekeeping columns provided middle-class housewives with affordable ideas for making their homes more functional and comfortable. Thanks to her originality as a stylist and her daring as a businesswoman, she became one of the most respected career women in the United States. She shocked the design world in 1937 when she decorated the thirty-seven-story Hampshire House apartment hotel on Central Park South in New York City, delivering a project that became indicative of her signature touch – ‘baroque fantasy’. In the Pink: Dorothy Draper, America’s Most Fabulous Decorator, by Carleton Varney, lavishly illustrates Draper’s most important projects.

Carleton Varney is “Mr. Color,” known for his inventive use of unexpected color combinations and for creating bright, happy interiors. His projects have ranged from some of the world’s most famous resorts, such as the Greenbrier in West Virginia, and the Grand Hotel in Michigan, to the White House, as well as residences from Europe to the South Pacific. As a young man, he trained under the tutelage of legendary designer Dorothy Draper. Now as the head of the venerable Dorothy Draper and Company, Inc., Varney continues the tradition of grand scale and bold contrasts in fabrics, wall coverings, and furniture designs, and yet he gives every room his signature style. For the first time, he offers an “on the set” tour of his popular HSN television show, Live Vividly. “Living with color changes your life,” says Varney, and in Mr. Color, more than three hundred dazzling photographs by Michel Arnaud show you how.

Located in the Straits of Mackinac between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island is a magical place, accessible only by ferry, private boat, or small plane. In 1887, Grand Hotel was built on the island to accommodate a new leisure class. Today, horse-drawn carriages (no motorized vehicles are allowed) still bring guests to the 660-foot-long porch to catch the breezes off the Great Lakes. When the Musser family – the owners of the hotel – brought in designer Carleton Varney, a 40-year relationship began, as did an ongoing mission to renovate, update, and create the guest rooms, public spaces, and outer buildings of Grand Hotel. That project continues today. (“The job of decorating is never done,” says the designer.) Varney has developed a vision that brings visitors back year after year to their choice of the 397 rooms – no two of which are alike. In Rooms to Remember, Varney – in his usual colourful and anecdote-filled style – walks the reader through over 200 lavish photographs of the 43 Named Rooms and Suites, providing decorating details, history, and insights. This book is the perfect visual guide for anyone ready to explore the beauty and history the hotel has to offer, and a takeaway memento for those who’ve visited this special place. Come along and join this glorious tour of an iconic American hotel! Contents: Foreword by Dan Musser lll, Introduction by Carleton Varney.

In this book, photographer Henk van Cauwenbergh introduces us to the marvellous worlds of matador Jean-Baptiste Jalabert (France) and prima ballerina Francesca Docli (Italy). The public’s favourite ‘Juan Bautista’, born in Arles, France and ballet dancer Francesca Dolci, a flamboyant member of the Les Ballets de Monte Carlo are the representatives par excellence of a world in which sports and art seamlessly melt together. Follow both top athletes/performers during their daily preparations, become a privileged witness to the particular rituals preceding each performance and be a spectator of a dazzling sham fight at the Mediterranean! Text in English, French and Dutch.

In the last 30 years the composition of the family in Japan has changed dramatically. In addition, the advancements in technology have expanded to the range of options available for living. Necessarily, this has resulted in changes in the construction world as well, particularly housing design. This book brings together more than 60 distinctive Japanese residential and interior designs. These case studies show how designers pay great attention to people’s daily lives, arranging the layout of small spaces to make them seem larger.

Formed in 2008, Mercurio Design Lab (MDL) masterfully manages to express its design potential. Lead by Massimo, a rare architectural polymath who is motivated by a strong spirit of innovation, philosophy and experimentation, MDL seeks to elevate and balance the synergies of the Asian architectural context with indomitable Italian style and tradition. MDL considers its projects as artistic masterpieces and makes a special contribution to the architectural scene of the city through the creation of dramatic and futuristic buildings, always respecting three fundamental criteria: the functional, the aesthetic and the social. This richly illustrated monograph is a comprehensive review of MDL’s exceptional artistry and diversity and it’s another icon for IMAGES’ Master Architect series, an absolute must for all collectors of beautiful books on sophisticated global architectural culture.