The fourth and final volume of the photographic and editorial project Canova. Four Tempos, dedicated to the plaster casts by Antonio Canova at the Gypsotheca in Possagno (Italy), continues the investigation into the imperfect form: works that, with their small nails that allowed plaster to be reproduced in marble, are an expression of genius in his making.
Luigi Spina approaches the works in a completely new way, from mythological subjects to the faces of the commissioners, from Daedalus and Icarus, a masterpiece of youth, to Adonis crowned by Venus, unfinished and never translated into marble. From the eternal comparison between the sculpture of Hector in a dynamic pose and Ajax about to draw his sword. The sensuality of Venus while revealing herself as she emerges from her bath.
Finally, the volume takes a look at the commissioners: the sculpture of the little prince Heryk Lubominski dressed as Cupid with bow and quiver and the sculpture of Princess Leopoldina Esterhàzy Liechtenstein. In the sculptor’s mind dominates the classical model, a symbol of harmony and perfection.
The ancient treasures collected over the past 20 years by Ludovic Donnadieu, hail from a myriad of ancient cultures, famous or obscure, across all five continents. The selection maintains a balanced representation of different geographical areas, ensuring that all regions of the world and all historical or prehistoric periods are accounted for. Through this comprehensive panorama, the viewer is invited on a cultural and anthropological journey through time and space.
The showcased artworks are “miniatures”; few exceed a size of 20 centimeters. Indeed, an artwork doesn’t need to be monumental to evoke profound emotional impact and fascination! Fragility can endure, the minuscule can embody grandeur, and singular detail can convey a universal message.
This selection of 99 works, forming a unique ensemble worldwide, adheres to a triple criterion: authenticity, aesthetic quality, and balance, both among the represented subjects and across different forms, materials, or functions. The period covered spans from 6,000 BC to the early 20th century. Presenting this collection to the public holds a dual significance: in a world threatened by uniformity, it celebrates the richness and diversity of human cultures while also highlighting the beauty and grandeur of small-scale formats and the need to protect what is fragile.
The Donnadieu Foundation was established in 2023, under the aegis of the Foundation for Childhood, by Ludovic Donnadieu, art collector, certified public accountant, and founder of the firm Donnadieu & Associates, which specialized in securing funds entrusted to NGOs. The Foundation aims to enable young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to broaden their horizons and engage in civic activism, while also raising awareness among the general public and policymakers about the importance of culture for the world’s youth.
Text in English and French.
The red-figure vases from the National Museum “Domenico Ridola” in Matera and the Rizzon Collection – rich in precious Apulian and Lucanian pieces – offer a unique opportunity to grasp Magna Graecia antiquity from an unusual perspective through the photographs by Luigi Spina. Significant testimony to vase painting between the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, the museum’s artifacts largely date back to the discoveries of Domenico Ridola (1841-1932) and form part of elaborate funerary assemblages, possessing great aesthetic and historical value through which everyday life is reflected in myths.
In the book, black is the protagonist: it enhances the red figures and brings out the keen eye of photographer Luigi Spina. Anatomical details, drapery, and decorative motifs emerge in all their strength without the filter of museum cases, while touches of white enrich the vases’ bichrome palette.
Photographing a work of art means capturing its deep meaning to communicate it to the world. Far from the idea of a museum catalog, the volume is rather a figurative atlas of antiquity.
Text in English and Italian.
This book is published on the occasion of the exhibition Helen McNicoll. An Impressionist Journey at Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec, Quebec City, Canada 20 June 2024 to 05 January 2025. Edited by Anne-Marie Bouchard, curator of Modern Art, the volume focuses on the idea of mobility in the life of the Canadian artist Helen McNicoll (1879-1915).
In the early 1900s, when women from well-to-do backgrounds were often confined to family and domestic life, Canadian Impressionist Helen McNicoll stood out for her love of travel and the discovery of new spaces. The artist emphasized painting outdoors and researching the effects of light and atmosphere that her numerous trips sustained. Her favorite subjects were scenes of everyday life, although she succeeded in offering an interpretation distinct from the Impressionists in that she focused more extensively on women’s labor.
The Helen McNicoll. An Impressionist Journey exhibition presents more than 60 works by the artist, 25 of them from the Pierre Lassonde collection. Through the prism of travel, the book thus examines the themes of female independence, risk-taking, friendship, and freedom for women in the stimulating context of the struggle by English suffragettes to win the right to vote.
Text in English and French.
I Am Digital takes you on an intimate journey through Flora Miranda’s extraterrestrial world of phygital (physical plus digital) identities. Explore technological storytelling, artistic haute couture creations and visions for creative fashion software. In the book, the multitude of Flora Miranda’s work unfolds in different subject areas. Enjoy a beautiful outsight of an immaterial world, an immaterial self.
Flora Miranda’s fascination with the simultaneous evolution of human behavior and new technologies has its origins in her upbringing: born in a family of musicians and artists, she learned how painters helped their eyes with the camera obscura and photography. She saw musical instruments tweaked, like the prepared piano by John Cage.
Experiencing the shift in the digital world with home computers and the internet, the ‘digital’ became her attitude to life. Expressing, shaping, and exploring this further evolving digital identity is the role of Flora Miranda’s creations.
This book is your companion to navigate through bits and bytes. To feel strong in a jungle of hackers. It can inspire you to take things into your own hand – may it be a change of perspective on the world, may it be transformative, may it support projects you believe in, or may it help to build your own world.
Slash & Burn presents some of Marcin Dudek’s key creations, focusing on what he refers to as ‘Memory Boxes’ and touching on other elements of practice including collage, performance, sculpture and research.
Marcin Dudek was just 12 years old and living in a concrete housing block outside Krakow, Poland, when the Berlin Wall finally toppled. Poland’s free-fall into capitalism followed as the country reeled from severe shortages, skyrocketing inflation and suddenly-defunct industry. For many, food was scarce. Money, more than hard to come by. A frayed social fabric, lacking civic associations left children vulnerable to new allegiances. Before becoming a teenager, he followed his older brother into the arms of a wild group of football supporters who created havoc in and outside the local stadium. Over time, many from this group moved from the council estate into the prison block as petty crimes escalated into enterprising criminal endeavors. Thanks in part to his sister, Dudek found an alternative path, moving to Salzburg, Austria to attend University of Art Mozarteum. He found work in art galleries, learned German and later moved to London, earning an MFA at Central Saint Martin’s.
Art as methodology for living, coupled with the DIY survivalist strategies of his youth, became tools for transformation as well as dealing with childhood trauma. Shortly after settling in Brussels in 2012, he began to publicly question and explore his past in the seminal exhibition Too Close for Comfort. Marcin Dudek is represented by Haarlen Levy Projects in Brussels.
“…I was pretty sure I had seen it all and would not find anything new in the book. I am delighted to report I was wrong.”– Marion Fasel, The Adventurine
“…a combination of excellent photographic professionalism and the infinite beauty of the star, who together gave birth to a real work of art.” – Di Redazione, Harper’s Bazaar Italia
“An extraordinary collection of photographs that celebrates one of Hollywood’s most iconic faces.” – Donato D’Aprile, L’Officiel Italy
“An intimate look at a Hollywood icon.” – Closer
“Bling, boobs & booze: She was famous for her diamonds, her tempestuous love for Richard Burton and her luminous acting. Now, a book of iconic images peels away the layers to reveal the woman behind the legend.”– Roger Lewis, Daily Mail
Elizabeth Taylor was the face of classic Hollywood. As one of the 20th century’s most loved stars, her image is instantly recognizable the world over. ACC Art Books and Iconic Images proudly present the work of eight wonderful photographers — Douglas Kirkland, Milton Greene, Gered Mankowitz, Norman Parkinson, Eva Sereny, Terry O’Neill, Gary Bernstein and Greg Brennan — who were fortunate enough to capture the star at different moments of her life. Throughout the book, the photographers share their memories of working with the icon, from patient pursuits to charming persuasion, each enlightening us with an inside view of what it was like to work with such an icon. The book presents a mix of set, fashion, portrait and behind-the-scenes photographs, including some rare and never-before-seen images. Forever Elizabeth is a visual tribute from some of the world’s best-known photographers to a star who continues to captivate our hearts.
“I only feel comfortable at home with my dog, my pencils and my paper” – Yves Saint Laurent, The Guardian, February, 2000
Successor of Christian Dior then director of his own fashion house, Yves Saint Laurent has established himself as a visionary designer throughout his career. Inseparable from the myth of Saint Laurent, his dogs accompanied him as much in the habitation of his apartments shared with Pierre Bergé, as in the effervescence of the workshop on Avenue Marceau, and fashion shows. The author highlights the forgotten dogs of childhood, extravagant chihuahuas, such as Hazel, who were faithful companions of the artist for more than 20 years. Effigies on annual greeting cards, evening models for Rive Gauche, and muses of Warhol or Hockney, the four famous French Bulldogs – all named Moujik – will be an integral part of the legend of the creator.
Enriched by a new iconography by Hedi Slimane, artistic director of Saint Laurent from 2012 to 2016 and artistic director of Céline since 2018, the book includes nearly 80 images from photographic archives, and drawings by Yves Saint Laurent.
Campervans come in different forms. Some are full to the brim with furniture, equipment, tools and everything else you may need for a life on the road. Others are blindingly simple, with next to nothing inside. Some look homemade, like a cozy burrow or hobbit hole. Others stand on the cutting edge, utilizing composite materials and insulation developed by NASA. Whatever campervan you dream of owning, this book will give you the practical knowledge and inspiration to make it a reality. It also tells the stories of people who have gone through the whole process and makes you aware of the do’s and don’ts along the way. You’ll find, as author Calum Creasey, owner of conversion company Onwards Adventure Vehicles, puts it: ‘There are few things that, when built by your own hands, hold the power to alter your life as much as a campervan.’
Addressing one of the urgent issues of climate crisis and environmental pollution, this book explores our relationship to the sea: how we live alongside it, our bodily relationship to it, its role in the creation of a connected, global society and, perhaps most critically, the threat we pose to it.
Through a broad selection of works by contemporary international artists, Can the Sea Survive Us? responds to the urgent need to resuscitate our seas. While the oceanic environment is essential to all life, its vulnerability to human action is highlighted by an ever-increasing loss of biodiversity. This book prompts the reader to imagine a future in which collective human behavior can mitigate the effects of climate change. As ocean temperatures reach record highs, it is clear that time is not on our side. This ambitious project aspires to accelerate climate awareness and deliver the critical climate action we urgently need.
The best art isn’t just created in art schools. Scratched into cave walls, molded in clay, embroidered onto clothing, sketched in the margins, painted on scrap cardboard in time snatched after work, perhaps in secret. Art is not only made inside academies and institutions by people with money and training, though sometimes the canon suggests otherwise. From Ukrainian pansky eggs to politically charged quilts, these 65 artworks challenge our preconceptions about what constitutes art, how it should be made and who should make it.
Coastal Bliss showcases the very best in contemporary coastal architecture and design. These 38 gorgeous vacation homes span the globe, from remote beaches in New Zealand to treetops in Costa Rica; from islands in Greece to dunes in South Africa; and from glamorous locations in the United States to some of the world’s best kept secrets in Portugal. Designed by leading architects, these homes range from minimalist pavilions to luxury houses. Each residence is illustrated with stunning full-color photography and accompanied by insightful text that describes the architect’s approach to the design and how they drew inspiration from the context, climate, and clients. Coastal Bliss is an aspirational volume for architects, designers, design enthusiasts, travelers, and dreamers. It’s the perfect gift for those seeking inspiration for their beach house, interested in contemporary architecture and design, or who simply want to let their imagination run wild. Dive in and soak up the best and latest in contemporary beach houses in Coastal Bliss
“Van Hulle is not an interior designer but an interior artist. He understands the art of transforming the soul of the occupants into the soul of a house.” – Elle Deco
Grand Interiors is an immersive ‘grand tour’ of Geoffroy Van Hulle’s grandiose interiors. The Belgian decorator gives us a look inside exuberant private homes, from Knokke to New York. In his unpretentious interiors, he sprinkles generously with colors, patterns and exoticism. ‘Nowhere in my interiors is the distance to a bookcase, fireplace or bar cabinet more than five steps,’ he says. With the bravura of his teachers Cecil Beaton and David Hicks, he designs dazzling sets for everyday theater.
Please welcome on stage, mister Geoffroy Van Hulle and his Grand Interiors!
“There’s a deeply personal and detailed account of how these homes came about that can’t fail to inspire the would-be house builder to push a little harder to create something beyond the ordinary that will truly stand the test of time.” — enki UK Magazine
Mark English Architects believes every home is a prototype, developed in collaboration with the client, landscape, topography, climate, and cultural considerations. in Situ: Unique Homes Crafted for California Living invites readers into seven of the firm’s residences to learn more about the studio’s approach to architecture and design.
Landscape and climate play a vital role in every Mark English project, with buildings and spaces designed to celebrate their California location, whether it’s the city, coast, or mountains. Each residential design is a sensitive and creative response to the site and environment and reflects the firm’s inherent understanding of the Golden State’s relaxed indoor-outdoor lifestyle. The practice draws on the California vernacular of open-plan living, light-filled spaces, and natural materials to blur the boundaries of inside and outside, and embeds every design with a layer of artistry to create meaningful homes for their residents.
This beautifully presented monograph features seven outstanding homes, illustrated with color photography, renders, plans, drawings, scale models, and site photographs that showcase Mark English Architects’ design and construction process and reveal how the firm crafts these unique homes for California living.
Alpine Elegance invites you to step inside 14 extraordinary chalets that fuse timeless charm with cutting-edge luxury. From the snow-dusted forests of Val d’Isère to the sunlit slopes of Snowmass, from the artistic allure of Courchevel to the tranquil reaches of Crimea, each home tells a unique story of elegance, innovation, and the enduring allure of the mountains.
This exclusive volume unveils a symphony of craftsmanship and natural beauty, where the line between indoors and outdoors blurs to create spaces that are both sanctuaries and works of art. Experience the refined coziness of Étoile du Nord in the heart of the French Alps or marvel at the seamless modernity of Analog House nestled in the Californian woods. Explore a family home in Kitzbühel, where tradition meets sophistication, and the Art Chalet Courchevel, a bold celebration of creativity.
“It’s not just about spectacular natural landscapes, but above all about inspiring stories behind the residents of the “Shacks”. The book is ideal for travel lovers, adventurers and for all those who want to escape from everyday life for a moment.” — Meter Magazine
“Escape to another place and a less complicated time in South Australia.” — Inside Out Australia
What could be more romantic than watching the sun rise and set over the sea, the mountains or the endless desert from a stylish little getaway shack with the ones you love? In this beautifully illustrated book, design journalist, book author and lifestyle editor Susan Redman not only inspires readers with the many decorating ideas on show, collated from the most gorgeous getaway homes across Europe, the Americas and Australasia, she also delves deeply to reveal the personal stories of creative couples and individuals who have built, styled or restored their special hideaways. From rustic retreats and dreamy beach houses to retro getaways and bespoke architectural havens, the diverse range of love shacks featured here offer design inspiration for your home away from home. Providing readers with an authentic perspective, the ‘shack’ owners share design visions and decorating tips on how they, and you, can awaken one’s inner stylist by combing the natural environment, local markets and vintage fairs to source love shack treasures. Along with stunning photographs, the pages also feature interesting notes on the wild and natural setting of each love shack—so you, too, can immerse yourself in the gorgeous surrounds of each home and find out how the people who live there connect with nature in their sanctuary. This compelling book gives a unique insight into the desire to escape the urban jungle for a holiday home of one’s own making in a remote or wild location, while exploring the role of design and creative vision in the process. It is perfect for anyone with a similar dream.
This book of photography is the result of two great loves. A journey through the streets of Florence through a little girl’s eyes, so bright and full of joy.
Windows and shop-windows act as if they were eyes too, capable of reflecting images of buildings and churches, so as to keep them inside, as well as in our memories or in our hearts.
A sort of journey to discover and rediscover aspects, anecdotes and curiosities of this atypical city, where every street, even the narrowest one, tells a story.
Text in English and Italian.
Arpaïs Du Bois’ book, Feue La Joyeuseté, further opens the door to her intense universe. The publication, designed by un’dercast, combines her output on paper over the last four years. Extensively introduced by Damien Sausset and including a letter by Philippe Van Cauteren (director of SMAK, Ghent), this book is the ultimate successor of her previous publications – all of them specific gems, both for their concept as for their design. Feue La Joyeuseté takes you on a road trip inside the artist’s brain and makes you a spectator, a witness instead of a passer-by. With more than 450 works on paper, it is opulently illustrated.
A soft voice, almost a whisper in the noise of the world. A soft voice that tells of time standing still, of wanderings of the soul, of trials of the heart. And about the impending thunder or the breeze that makes the canopy sway. A soft voice in which the suspicion of death roars as fiercely as the vibrant hopes of everyday life. Anyone willing to listen to it will hear all this in the sentences of Arpaïs Du Bois. For this ‘secret’ artist writes words, loose thoughts or snippets of text on sheets of paper that still shiver from the colors they have drawn. No beautiful poems or heroic stories here. The power of these words lies in something quite different. How do you draw with and against language?
Text in English, French and Dutch.
Refuge is the sixth book by Lara Gasparotto and spans four years of daily photographic practice, in the artist’s immediate environment but also much further away, as far as Guyana, via Quebec and Louisiana.
More than a practice, it is rather a way of looking at the world that drives Lara Gasparotto. A world of outdoors, of flora, fauna, rain, sun, lakes, trees, and her family.
Gasparotto spent a winter and a spring working on the selection for this book. In the end, Refuge delivers a subtle narration without chapters, without page numbers, and where the rhythm is changing.
On the cover is an illustration by her sister Lissa Gasparotto and inside a poetic text by Eva Mancuso. The 200 images are a little more than strictly photography: intuitive and nourished by painting, Gasparotto seeks with pastel, gouache, sometimes even oil, tenuous elements of her photos that she modifies, enhances, underlines and then rephotographs to finally, very subtly, move the image from the mechanical and the chemical to the fleeting expressiveness of the living.
Text in French.
A Passage to Siam is an award-winning historical novel by Thai novelist V. Vinicchayakul which tells of the tragic romance between Catherine, a young Englishwoman, and Justin, or Prince Vijjuprapha of Siam, during the reign of Rama IV and the beginning of the reign of Rama V, against a backdrop of real life events and characters. The clash of civilizations between East and West that occurred during this period, is reflected in the conflicts between the headstrong young Englishwoman and Justin’s conservative relatives inside the palace. Above all, it is a magnificent and compelling love story that transcends the boundaries of time, religion, race and custom.
Lucy Srisuphapreeda’s translation will captivate English-speaking readers just as the original work enthralled Thai readers from the time it was written until today.
Edvard Munch, the old painter, thinks he is living alone. But one day, he makes a curious discovery: he’s sharing his house with a mouse called Storm, who dreams of becoming an artist, just like him. A Mouse in Munch’s House is about their shared adventures in search of the perfect picture. Together they explore a hidden bar inside a piano, visit a bug exhibition under Munch’s bathtub and encounter a quirky pest controller. A midnight trip to an art museum run by mice even leads to a daring art heist!
Pjotr Sapegin’s delightful and heart-warming tales are loosely inspired by Edvard Munch’s life, and invite children to explore the magic of art, fun and friendship. Perfect for young readers aged 6 to 12 who are ready to embark on a colourful adventure with an unlikely duo: a tall, lanky artist and his tiny, furry apprentice.
Discover the most enchanting libraries around the world in 150 Libraries You Need to Visit Before You Die. This book will take you on a fascinating journey through 150 unique libraries across all continents. Whether you are an avid reader or architecture lover, this richly illustrated book serves as an inspiring travel guide and is the perfect reference for those in search of quiet yet endlessly interesting spaces. From opulent Baroque monasteries to sleek contemporary cultural hubs, each library has its own story – and an engrossing selection of books and media to browse through, of course.
From classic to modern, from minimalist to eccentric: Her Eye showcases the leading female Dutch interior designers you need to see and know. Get to know each of them through personal interviews and an overview of their best work, photographed by Space Content Studio. Her Eye is an inspiring interior design book of the highest level.
Featuring Nicoline Beerkens, Nicole Dohmen (Atelier ND Interior), Lisca van Everdingen (Inside Stories Interiors), Sascha Faase, Evelijn Ferwerda, Sophie Van Der Graaf (Studio Sophie), Leonie Hendrikse (Stock Dutch Design), Ellen ten Hove (Studio Ocean), Mariska Jagt (Yume Atelier), Michelle Jager (Even Eleven), Linda Lagrand (Lagrand Interiors), Mabel Muijres (Mabella Artisans), Judith van Mourik, Martje Overmeer, Roelfien Vos, Derkina Wiegman and Anne Claire Winkelhagen (Clairz).
An exciting new historical novel.
Every so often a long-lost manuscript from the dusty shelves of an obscure archive to challenge our entrenched views of former times, far-off places, exotic peoples. Such a lucky find by a pair of Bangkok-based expats forms the subject of this book, a work of historical fiction. Binding the tattered tapestry of fact with filaments of fiction, this book brings to life the dramatic events of a near forgotten place and time of battles, subterfuge, and broken alliances in a manner that rivals classic histories of the past.