Reality Check shows an overview of a decade of Dutch realism in painting, photography, video, sculpture, installations, drawings and graphics. On the basis of over 50 artists – young and old, established and recently graduated – Sito Rozema – curator at Museum MORE – outlines the latest developments in realism in the Netherlands. What is it in our time that prompts the contemporary artist increasingly opt for a figurative visual language to explore reality? The catalogue, the participating artists themselves have their say: what does realism mean to them?
Text in English and Dutch.
Bangkok arrests the visitor with a bewildering juxtaposition of old and new, high-tech and impromptu, sacred and profane. While modernizing apace and a myriad outside influences, the Thai capital draws equal vigor from its historical communities, cultural diversity and contemporary urban tribes. Author of Very Thai and Time Out Bangkok, Philip Cornwel-Smith takes an alternative look at the subcultures of his adopted town in this practical thematic handbook. With the aid of maps, listings and references, the visitor can engage with Bangkok’s contradictory character according to their mood or interest.
Explore the city’s contrasting environments, architectural fabric, ethnic patchwork and intertwined beliefs. Encounter distinct social scenes, where the hip or hi-so, local or bohemian and see how traditional roots infuse the current Thai flowering in arts and entertainments, fashion and food lifestyle and spas. Photography by Philip Cornwel-Smith and others enhances this insiders’ guide to a city like no other.
With her project Like we could almost live forever, Carlotta Guerra (*1976) invites us on a visual and emotional journey. The photographs, taken in Italy and North America, draw on her family heritage and create a tapestry of personal memories, experiences, impressions, and emotions. Aware that our limited time in life makes our encounters precious and unique, Guerra collects photographic moments, which she arranges like tiny pieces of a vast puzzle into a narrative full of expressive and associative power. This collection encourages us to explore the magic and the sorrows of life, from the simplest to the most significant moments of everyday existence.
“Most photographers have a style and a favourite subject, but few are as synonymous with their chosen field as Anouk Krantz, who is known for her spectacular – and immensely popular – black & white studies of cowboy culture.” — Black & White Photography Magazine
“Incredible photos capture modern-day cowboys throughout the USA and South America and reveal ‘humanity at its best’.” — Daily Mail
“…fascinating and expansive photo project on the many manifestations of cowboy culture, encompassing the North American cowboy that’s forever enshrined in popular culture, the Central American ‘vaquero’ and the South American ‘gaucho.’” — Amateur Photographer Magazine
“…a stunning photographic journey uncovering a hidden world of modern cowboy culture.” — Cultural Union
In Anouk Masson Krantz’s most expansive work to date, she travels tens of thousands of miles across the Americas, broadening her focus from the United States to both American continents. In her exquisite, large-scale photographs – all new for this book – Anouk captures sweeping landscapes and paints an intimate portrait of the enduring cross-boundary legacies of the North American cowboy, Central American vaquero, and South American gaucho. Her time spent at ranches and rodeos across The Americas has culminated in a magnificent book honouring a way of life many around the world dream of but rarely have experienced first-hand. Frontier builds upon Anouk’s renowned body of work with her bestselling Wild Horses of Cumberland Island (2017); West: The American Cowboy (2019); American Cowboys (2021); and Ranchland (2022). Her stunning black and white, large-scale photographs capture a culture deeply rooted in principled, timeless values, sacrifice, strength, and self-reliance. From stunning panoramas to the intimate everyday lives of working cowboys and their families, Frontier is a must-have addition to her impressive body of work.
Bernie Taupin, Oscar winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and long-time song-writing collaborator with Elton John, has contributed an exceptional foreword.
“There’s an honesty and integrity in these images that parlays all the elements of what it means to exist outside the boundaries of conformity and confinement. The rebel spirit, the rugged individualism, and the absolute unapologetic rhythm of history. This is stunning work—a true testament to the men and women who are the anvil on which America’s backbone was forged.” —Bernie Taupin
Spanning from the Asuka Period to the 21st Century, this reprinted special issue of Shinkenchiku
presents a chronology of Japanese architecture from the perspective of ‘space’. With a focus on photography, this issue allows readers to draw relationships between 100 architectural projects and the eras that produced them.
It is often said that architecture does not ‘grow on its own’, and that it reflects human will and the varying combinations of the cultural, political, and economic situations of the time. It is also true that spatial architectural expressions are the result of all human activities and their underlying values and are not something that can neatly be confined to a particular age.
With this in mind, the catalogue presents this accumulation of Japanese spatial expressions to encourage the creation of new histories to contemplate. Beyond being visually provocative, this special book also contains a chronological catalogue of technical drawings to supplement any investigations.
Text in Japanese.
Sasha Gusov (b.1960) is a Russia-born, UK-based photographer, fascinated by the morals, customs, and manners of people across the world. Alongside his commercial work for influential clients including Vogue, Christie’s, and Sotheby’s, Gusov is an avid street photographer, and his keen eye finds the differences, commonalities, comedy, and gravity in people and places.
Collecting the World presents his photographs taken over twenty-five years in a picture selection curated by editor Amanda Renshaw. An essay by academic and photographer Peter Hamilton sheds light on Gusov’s life as a photographer in Russia and London and his unique visual language.
In Collecting the World Gusov juxtaposes toreadors outside a bullring in Spain with synchronized swimmers in Belarus; a sumo wrestler riding a bicycle with a pilot sitting with his bike in front of an aircraft; and Jude Law in jeans and a ballerina from the Bolshoi Ballet in costume puffing on cigarettes. His message is clear: people are people all over the world.
The Rolling Stones: Icons brings together the greatest photographs ever taken of the greatest rock ’n’ roll band of all time. The result is the most important anthology of The Rolling Stones’ images ever compiled, featuring the iconic, the awe inspiring and the surprising.
Spanning six heady decades, and countless tours and album covers, this thrilling portfolio features imagery from some of the most eminent names in photography, alongside the photographers’ own memories and reflections. From Terry O’Neill’s images of the young, uncompromising new band taken in Tin Pan Alley, through Michael Brennan’s photos of their creative peak in the ’70s, and on to the stadium tours of the 21st-century, as shot by Greg Brennan, The Rolling Stones: Icons captures many of the milestone moments of the band’s remarkable career.
Includes photographs by: Terry O’Neill, Michael Ward, Gered Mankowitz, Linda McCartney, Michael Joseph, “Spanish Tony” Sanchez, Dominique Tarlé, Ed Caraeff, Barry Schultz, Al Satterwhite, Michael Brennan, Ken Regan, Brian Aris, Denis O’Regan, Douglas Kirkland, Greg Brennan and founding member, bassist and photographer, Bill Wyman.
“With 240 pages filled with incredible art, the bird lover will enjoy flipping through and taking in the vast distinctions between species in the bird kingdom.” — Prevention
Australian artist Greg Oakley has had a lifelong fascination with birds and bird art, and began photographing birds 20 years ago, progressing from traditional film to digital in the early 2000s. In the past six years, he has worked on perfecting the difficult and exacting area of bird photography known as “setup”, where perches and backgrounds are meticulously crafted and designed, and lighting strictly controlled.
There are sometimes hundreds of individual photographs taken and then digitally combined to create a single work. With a combination of photographic skill, field craft, meticulousness and incredible patience, he removes the subject from its natural environment and context, re-imagining it in a field-guide style reminiscent of the historic bird artists.
Oakley’s photographs represent a reconstructed contemporary vision of important historic artists such as Gould and Audubon. This collection of stunning artwork is a testament to the natural beauty of birds, highlighting the precarious existence of many endangered species and a reminder of the beauty we could lose. By isolating the subject into an unblemished reality, each species’ character and beauty is celebrated with empathy and understanding. The resulting images provide both a rare glimpse in stunning detail of these delicate creatures, and a poignant reminder of the tragic, impending loss of many of them due to habitat loss and climate change.
Over recent years, the internationally renowned fashion photographer Alexander Gnädinger has been devoting himself to a free project to act as a counterweight against his commercial work. Extremely stylized, aesthetically condensed images, such as those created for his customer Adidas for years, are his trademark. For his project 100 Girls on Polaroid he embarked on a journey to rediscover the original fascination of photography – capturing an authentic moment.
He asked 100 girls to pose in the way in which they consider themselves to be beautiful. In their professional lives, models are the projection screens for society’s ideas of beauty. They are depicted by the photographer, a whole host of stylists, and hair and make-up artists according to the customer’s wishes. Many of the models shown in the book are known from cover pictures and campaigns. Instead, Alexander Gnädinger was looking for the girls’ own individual perception and self-expression. You can sense this on every single page in the book. Shortly after Alexander Gnädinger began the project, he received the surprising news of the collapse of Polaroid.
The Polaroid medium is currently experiencing a renaissance thanks to its authenticity. From Polaroid’s bankrupt estate, Gnädinger bought the last remnants of the black cardboard box that protects the Polaroid film in every cassette. This cardboard box became the dust jacket for the book and gives the book a unique look.
Ancient adventurers have often spoken of a mystical land of perfect harmony and eternal bliss nestled in the forbidding remoteness of the Tibetan Plateau – the legendary Shangri La. No one has managed to pinpoint its exact location on a map. In the local belief system, Shangri La may well not be a place at all but rather the mental state of a pure and exalted body, speech and mind. Fascinated by this concept, the photographer and author Mahendra Singh set out on his quest. Most of it currently occupied by China, the Tibetan Plateau has been significantly distorted over time under state pressure. Therefore, the author traveled through some of the last surviving remnants of authentic Tibetan life found in the valleys of Ladakh and Spiti; often and justifiably referred to as ‘Little Tibet’. He traveled through remote valleys, ventured across stark landscapes and visited the improbable green oases of human habitation, culture and religion, to bring together this comprehensive portrait of the region through his vivid photographs and meticulously researched text. This book aims to take the readers on a journey of discovery and reflection, and hopefully, a little further along the path to finding their own Shangri La.
“These are just a few highlights amongst the 43 projects featured in Architects at Home, but each is certain to reveal both the pleasures and challenges of designing a home for oneself.” — Canadian Interiors
This stunning revised and updated edition takes you on a thrilling tour through the fascinating, eclectic and stylish abodes of some of the world’s best-known architects. Not only do these pages offer a rare glimpse into each architect’s personal, private environment, but each uniquely designed project provides insight into how each architect marries trends with their own personal philosophy, and how they inject interior design flair into their own contemporary domain.
Combining rich photography and spectacular imagery with an incisive summary by a leading architecture specialist, Architects at Home provides a rich source for those keen to delve into the design aesthetics, concepts and innovations of prominent architects from around the globe.
Come to Philadelphia for the arts. Stay to discover the city’s lesser-known contributions to American culture. It is the birthplace of the political cartoon and the rich history that followed, a hub of early American burlesque that led to Gypsy Rose Lee’s discovery, and a national model for public art with the country’s largest public arts program. Uncover the fun secrets, like where to score a free music degree, enjoy free orchestral concerts, and catch free circus arts performances around the city. And if you’re searching for a painting so gruesome it was once considered too offensive for display but now calls two museums home, this book will tell you where to find it.
Whether your interests lie in high culture or the underground, the magnificent or the macabre, fitness or food, or even just the casually quirky, 111 Places in Philadelphia That You Must Not Miss will reveal something new to everyone, even lifelong residents.
Supercars is a celebration of the world’s most beautiful and iconic motorcars, ranging from icons like the Ferrari F40 to modern classics such as the Bugatti Veyron. Belgian photographer Rudolf van der Ven captures the essence of each car in this stunning 224-page coffee table book through his photography and unique stories. Foreword by Tim ‘Shmee150’ Burton.
This well-designed publication features new photographs by London-based artist Bettina von Zwehl (b.1971 in Munich). Following her graduation from the Royal College of Art in 1999, von Zwehl has completed high-profile residencies and had solo exhibitions at museums around the world, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, Freud Museum, Holburne Museum, and the New York Historical Society Museum. During a residency in Oxford, von Zwehl researched the Ashmolean’s founding collections and the many narratives embedded within the historical objects. This served as inspiration for a unique Wunderkammer book and exhibition that seamlessly transition between still-life, portraiture, monumental and miniature elements, as well as non-art objects and specimens from natural history collections. The artist’s aim is to rekindle wonder and curiosity as critical tools for exploring new ideas and unique practices, expanding the boundaries of the photographic medium.
50 Ways to Cycle the World is the kind of book you’d give to a friend or family member who’s considering cycling somewhere in the world but feels that there are too many obstacles to overcome. 50 Ways encapsulates 50 unique cycling projects accomplished by 75 cyclists from 23 countries. It serves as the ultimate visual guide and encyclopedia to traveling by bicycle no matter what your personal situation is. You’ll find impressive, powerful, emotional and incredibly fun stories on almost every page, accompanied by the beautiful and inspiring photography shot all over our planet by the many cyclists who’ve shared their cycling stories.
Want to know what it’s like to cycle alone, with a dog or a cat, with kids, or with strangers you meet on the road? Or how to travel by tandem, folding bicycle, e-bike or on a bamboo frame? Or maybe you’re simply in need of that last little push over the doorstep, inspired by those who’ve seen the world by bike. Featuring over 400 revealing questions and answers, we’re sure 50 Ways to Cycle the World will tell you exactly what you need to know in order to overcome whatever is holding you back from starting out on your big adventure.
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Bangkok arrests the visitor with a bewildering juxtaposition of old and new, high-tech and impromptu, sacred and profane. While modernizing apace and a myriad outside influences, the Thai capital draws equal vigor from its historical communities, cultural diversity and contemporary urban tribes. Author of Very Thai and Time Out Bangkok, Philip Cornwel-Smith takes an alternative look at the subcultures of his adopted town in this practical thematic handbook. With the aid of maps, listings and references, the visitor can engage with Bangkok’s contradictory character according to their mood or interest.
Explore the city’s contrasting environments, architectural fabric, ethnic patchwork and intertwined beliefs. Encounter distinct social scenes, where the hip or hi-so, local or bohemian and see how traditional roots infuse the current Thai flowering in arts and entertainments, fashion and food lifestyle and spas. Photography by Philip Cornwel-Smith and others enhances this insiders’ guide to a city like no other.
The iconic Dome of the Cathedral of Florence, the largest masonry vault in the world, was built by Filippo Brunelleschi between 1420 and 1436. More than 100 years later, between 1572 and 1579, the vault was decorated with frescos by the artists Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari depicting the Last Judgment. Working with advanced imaging technology, total access, and Italy’s leading art photographer, this book presents in never-before-seen detail and completeness the entire pictorial cycle of the Dome. Contributions by noted art historians Marco Bussagli, Mina Gregori, and Timothy Verdon illuminate the art historical significance of this magnificent symbol of Florence and the Renaissance.
Text in English and Italian.
“It’s surely the ultimate coffee-table book…. “ — Daily Mail
“This exciting collection lends itself to significant discussion and interest, given coffee is such a large part of our daily culture around the globe.” — Travel by Entree
“… another brilliant document of an exciting epoch in coffee culture.” — We Heart
“Do you love coffee, traveling and design? Then this is a must-have for you! The addresses of 39 cafes, café clubs and coffee roasteries in 26 cities in different parts of the world can be found in a unique book and album in one “Café Cool: feel-good inspiring designs”. The author, Robert Schneider, presents an amazing collection of modern, designer places, designed to turn the coffee experience into an art.” — AD Poland
“This book is a homage to his belief that, particularly given the recent global pandemic, it is vital that we continue to support and appreciate quality coffee in cafes and coffee shops that exhibit great feel-good inspiring designs.” — Coffee T&I
Café Cool: feel-good inspiring designs is the much-anticipated third book in the series by Robert Schneider, and features 39 cafés and coffee shops and roasteries in 26 cities around the world, richly illustrated with full-color images. The curated selection shares a focus on modern contemporary designs, showcasing independent, local coffee hubs that sit at the heart of communities and are designed to foster a fantastic coffee experience. Insightful commentary by the owners and designers capture the feel and personality of each project. Schneider has once again served up an engaging and inspiring collection of modern cafés and coffee shops for lovers of coffee and good design. This book is a homage to his belief that, particularly given the recent global pandemic, it is vital that we continue to support and appreciate quality coffee in cafes and coffee shops that exhibit great feel-good inspiring designs.