You searched for temple of invention history of a national landmark - Page 27 of 28

Theyyam is a colorful ritualistic folk-art tradition of India, originating in the northern districts of Kerala. The performers are daily-wage laborers struggling to eke out an existence; and yet, when they perform at the estate of their masters, the latter bow before them with folded hands.

The alluring facial-body drawings with intricate and subtle nuances and the colorful paraphernalia, including various headgears in different shapes, are endlessly fascinating. The unpolished rhythm of Theyyam enhances its appeal. Concepts such as Mother, Nature, Fertility and Agriculture, Spirit and Ghost, Animal, Reptile and Warrior, among others, are worshiped as Theyyam which refers to both the form and the performance. Most Theyyams are women worshiped as Mother Goddesses and any devotee, irrespective of religion or caste, can interact with this goddess without the help of intermediaries such as priests.

Art scholar and photographer K.K. Gopalakrishnan has captured Theyyam in its myriad facets, with a variety of stunning photographs, from the insightful perspective of an insider.

Cheers to cosiness! Why is everyone so “crazy” about the Munich Oktoberfest? One thing is certain: the Oktoberfest epitomizes everything that Germany and the whole world love about Bavarian culture: Fesche Madln, hefty food and hearty dance music.

In this Callwey book, deeply rooted traditions are brought to life, numerous exciting facts about the Wiesn are revealed and the most beautiful moments around the Oktoberfest are captured. Visiting the Oktoberfest brings the Wiesn into your own four walls: Wies’n landlords reveal the tastiest Bavarian recipes to recreate, their favorite places and insider tips throughout Munich, and tell never-before-heard Munich stories.

Think of the images our minds create from the simplest combinations of line and form, and of the stories and scenes they evoke. Imagine, the third volume in Sean Palfrey’s photography book series, is filled with the mysterious, the beautiful, and the abstract: a suite of pictures of expressive shapes, strong patterns, and ideas in color.

Palfrey is a renowned pediatrician and child health advocate who travels the world with his work and for pleasure. His fascination with people, places, and stories informs both his artistic and his professional practice. In Imaginings, Palfrey has created a wide diversity of images, both figurative and abstract, but all of them starting from a photograph of the real in nature – an object, a texture, a landscape. Whether it’s a single, framed shot of a patch of sand, or a composition of multiple exposures taken to make the familiar new, Palfrey’s images and musings on them stimulate our imaginations into taking flight.

Hikobae is a book collection of comic works on the border between the genres of sociological comics and comics with a poetic value on the theme of everyday life in Japan. The project is a follow-up to the comic book Iogi (2022), in which the same team focused on ordinary life in Tokyo’s Suginami district. Iogi was presented at related exhibitions in Japan and the Czech Republic and won several prestigious awards (a bronze medal in the Japan International Manga Award, the Muriel Award for Best Screenplay, Art Award of the City of Pilsen).

In the loose sequel entitled Hikobae, each story focuses on a different region of Japan: from the northern island of Hokkaido to Shimane Prefecture in the southwest of the archipelago, from the mountain peaks of Gunma Prefecture to the seashore of Shikoku Island. The stories deal with the theme of everyday life, far from the stereotypical ideas of the Land of the Rising Sun. The key focus of the book is on the tradition and its transmission: some comics deal with contemporary forms of traditional Japanese crafts, customs or ceremonies (pottery, fishing, the tea ceremony, blueprinting, the traditional saké bio-production).

Hikobae is a result of an exceptional collaboration between the author of the script, Jean-Gaspard Páleníček, who brings the perspective of his experience with life in Japan, and students of the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen under the supervision of Václav Šlajch. The afterword was written by Pavel Kořínek, an acclaimed comic expert and researcher at the Centre for Comics Studies of the CAS.

Text in Japanese.

The very first retrospective book showcasing the renowned high jewelry Maison, Chaumet features a collection of iconic editorials and campaigns captured by major photographers such as Guy Bourdin, Peter Lindberg, Mario Testino, Mario Sorrenti, Richard Burbridge, and Paolo Roversi. Additionally, it presents previously unreleased autochromes from the early 20th century, offering a captivating glimpse into the Maison’s historical archives.

A photographic reference title authored by Carol Woolton, a leading authority on high jewelry at British Vogue, Sylvie Lécallier, director of the photographic collection at Palais Galliera Musée de la Mode in Paris, and Flora Triebel, a curator specialist in 19th-century photography at Bibliothèque Nationale de France, delves into the close ties Chaumet has woven with photography since its inception, revealing its innovative collaborations over the years. From the 1930s to the present day, the book offers a portrait of high jewelry and women, making it an essential read for photography and high jewelry enthusiasts worldwide.

During the German occupation, a Jewish Dutch couple had to sell a painting to go into hiding. Their daughters were placed in a children’s home, but were rounded up in early 1944 and deported to Auschwitz, where they died. The parents survived the war and did not discover their children’s fate until 1946. The search for the painting also remained fruitless for a long time, until Origins Unknown Agency discovered that it had ended up in a German museum. The museum had previously tried unsuccessfully to trace its provenance. Thanks to the Origins Unknown Agency, the heirs of the original owner were found. The German museum and the heirs agreed that the painting, an 1882 work by Camille Pissarro, would remain at the museum. As part of the compensation, the painting will be kept on display from November 2024 to February 2025 at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

This monumental monograph is dedicated to Dutch painter Jaap van den Ende (Delft, 1944). In richly illustrated chapters, four authors illuminate the development of a multiform oeuvre spanning almost six decades. Starting in the 1960s as a purely abstract, ‘systematic’ painter, figuration reluctantly made its appearance in the mid-1980s. For Van den Ende, however, these, at first glance very different approaches to painting, are not mutually exclusive. Since the late 1990s, abstraction and figuration have coexisted within the same painting. ‘I have started to feel more and more, to strive to be fully present,’ says Van den Ende. ‘I am not someone who exclusively abstract thinking. I want to touch everything.’

Text in English and Dutch.

A multidisciplinary artist of the 20th century, Guy de Rougemont (1935-2021) flourished throughout his career in painting, sculpture, the decorative arts and ceramics, in a constant play on color, line and form. The monumental wrapping of the columns at the Musée d’Art Moderne in 1974, the highly acclaimed paving of the entrance to the Musée d’Orsay in 1986, and the paving of the Ministry of Finance in 1987, as well as the 30-kilometer stretch of the A4 motorway in 1977, are all still making their mark, the result of the artist’s desire to make art part of the lives of passers-by. Guy de Rougemont was constantly reinventing himself, between public and private space, urban and domestic, between Pop Art and Minimalism. Among his most famous works: his cloud table, his colored totems, his serpentine lines, his tapestries for the Mobilier National, his cutlery and other more confidential works earned him a major retrospective at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in 1990. He became an Academician in the painting section in 1997.

Text in English and French.

If you really want to get to know Washington, DC, you have to go out and get walking. Beyond the bounty of the National Mall and well-known historic sites, DC is a vibrant city full of unusual places, stories, and experiences that both avid and casual urban explorers will want to seek out.

DC insiders and adventurers Paige Muller and Andrea Seiger take you on 22 self-guided walks that blend the city’s rich history and vibrant culture, with some dishy tidbits thrown in for good measure. You’ll discover lesser-known facts behind popular icons and uncover wonderful spots, often hiding in plain sight.

There is a secret royal connection that lurks in an upper Northwest neighborhood, and a historic building that stands in for the White House in multiple Hollywood movies. See if you can spot the hidden graffiti on a well-known memorial. Discover what inspired Kate Winslet’s famous pose on the Titanic’s bow. And find out all about the Civil War officer whose missing leg is allegedly entombed in a wall.

Studio SKLIM is an innovative and forward-thinking design firm skilled at crafting bespoke spatial solutions. Based in Singapore and with a presence in India, the firm believes that the fast-changing contemporary life demands a rethink and reorganization of existing spatial parameters in design.

Studio SKLIM: Evolving Techne features ten carefully selected projects that exemplify the firm’s approach as integrates traditional practices with modern technology and sustainable practices. The selected portfolio presented in this monograph encompasses a diverse range of built and unbuilt projects, including residential, hospitality, workplace, and education. Each project includes stunning full-colour photography, informative text, and explanatory diagrams to reveal the thought behind the design.

“Turning the pages of this encyclopedia of golden parties, a nostalgia emanates from the clichés and plunges us into the evening of the stars at the Oscars…” — Harper’s Bazaar France

“With his new collection of photographs, Dafydd Jones offers a sensational dive into the excitement of the awards season in the 1990s.” — Vanity Fair France

“… a rare collection of candid moments that reveal the deepest aspects of the personalities of the world’s most famous people.” — Vogue Greece

“These images, taken before the turn of the century, give us a snapshot into the rise of America’s future movers and shakers, when mobile phones were in their infancy, Facebook had yet to be created, and the hit TV series Succession hadn’t even occurred to a twenty-something Jesse Armstrong.” — The Independent

“If you’re interested in celebrity culture, black & white, and of course any of the other work of Dafydd Jones, this comes highly recommended.” — Amateur Photography

Hollywood: Confidential is the latest collection of beautifully timed photos from bestselling society photographer Dafydd Jones. Formerly of Tatler and Vanity Fair, Jones is a serial capturer of intimate moments during high-society functions. As famous Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter puts it, when it comes to party photographers, ‘Dafydd Jones is the sniper’s sniper – the best of the best.’

On numerous occasions in the 1990s and 2000s, Jones turned his lens to the faces of Hollywood with all his usual impudence, as they mingled and danced at private events in the Hollywood Hills, Oscar-night parties and awards ceremonies. The result is a rare thing – photographs that convey the underlying personalities of the world’s most public personas.

Following on from England: The Last Hurrah and New York: High Life / Low Life, this is an essential portrait of celebrity culture from behind the scenes, featuring the likes of Anna Nicole Smith, Tom Cruise, Prince, Winona Ryder, Tony Curtis, Oprah, Nicholas Cage and more.

Praise for Dafydd Jones:

“Dafydd catches those moments of genuine exhilaration, wealth and youth.” – The Hollywood Reporter

“Mr. Jones goes about his business with cheery zest and a wicked eye.” – New York Times

“Some carefully tended public images are punctured with such rapier precision that one can hear the hiss as they deflate.” – Mitchell Owens, The World of Interiors

“Sublime vintage photographs…”– Hermione Eyre, the Telegraph

“Modest though he is, Dafydd’s photographs will endure for having perfectly captured a society on the brink of decline.” – Country & Townhouse podcast

“The New York book is an evocative historical document, brimming with nostalgia and menace.” – Hannah Marriott, The Guardian

“The best party photographers, and their numbers are few, are like snipers… Dafydd Jones is the sniper’s sniper – the best of the best.” Graydon Carter, foreword from New York: High Life / Low Life

“Dafydd’s brilliant evocation of a time and a class only seem more potent today, when we know that so many of the moneyed twits in his ’80s portfolio ended up running the country, as they always have” – Tina Brown, The New Yorker

Bouke de Vries, based in London, gets the viewer thinking with his extraordinary artworks of broken porcelain and discarded shards. He creates extraordinary works of art from broken porcelain and pottery and discarded shards. With these he makes the viewer think about what beauty and perfection are. This combination of craftsmanship and creativity makes his art both visually impressive and conceptually stimulating. De Vries’ museum work is included in many leading international collections and he is represented by leading international galleries. This book presents an overview of the highlights of his career, in which he plays with the theme of decay and recovery. In his still lifes, relics and large installations, Bouke de Vries respects the history of objects, but adds humor and depth. The observant viewer experiences how the life of an object through the ages changes its owner, context and meaning. Several international art critics wrote a contribution for this book.

Text in English and Dutch.

With non-stop entertainment, endless gambling opportunities, and world-class dining, there’s no shortage of things to do in Las Vegas. But beyond the neon lights, buffets, and slot machines is a city with a unique history, extraordinary natural wonders, rich culture, and close-knit communities. As the fastest growing city established in the 20th-century, Las Vegas is continuously evolving, gaining new attractions each day and revitalizing cultural gems.
111 Places in Las Vegas offers a chance to rediscover familiar haunts or unearth new favorites to better understand this sensational city. Grab a drink at the oldest freestanding bar in the city or check out the only operating casino named to the National Register of Historic Places. Explore Vegas’s quirky themed street names or drive along the starry-est route in America. Search for centuries old petroglyphs or learn about the city’s modest origins. Whatever your personal tastes and travel style, this neon-lit entertainment capital has it in spades. And then some.

Paris is the physical memory of seven World Expos that took place in the city from 1855 to 1937. These Expos left behind monuments like the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay, the Grand and Petit Palais… But many traces are more subtle: your suitcase today is an evolution of the trunk Louis Vuitton won a gold medal with at Paris’ Exposition Universelle in 1867, and the typical Parisian bistro chairs were designed during those years when a multitude of cafés and restaurants flourished because of the Expos, including icons like Le Procope.

A cocktail of travel guide and history book, Nobody Sits Like the French tells these stories and many more, pointing out the marks the Expos left behind. From now on, you’ll know that every time you sip a glass of burgundy, drink from Baccarat crystal, admire a Manet or a Gauguin, and even enjoy the benefits of a working sewer system in Paris, you owe it to a World Expo there.

This photographic collection will take you on a journey through some of the world’s most stunningly unusual and imaginative buildings, from the terracotta-pink bubble palaces of southern France to the mind-bendingly warped houses of Poland. You’ll discover structures shaped like dogs, shoes, and picnic baskets—each one a testament to the playful possibilities of architecture. From private homes to national libraries, towering churches inspired by mountains and glaciers, and architectural marvels spanning from Bilbao to Beijing, these buildings are united by a spirit of adventure and an unconventional approach to design. Each structure in this collection challenges traditional ideas of form and function, celebrating creativity and pushing the boundaries of what architecture can be.

A visionary leader and a charming diplomat, this catalog unveils a largely private collection of objects belonging to His Highness the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman. The 50 artifacts from the Renaissance collection, currently held in the National Museum of Oman, have been chosen to offer an intimate portrait of the Sultan’s 50-year reign. The collection showcases treasures – many seen here for the first time – received from friends and rulers worldwide as well as symbolic objects that reflect the early years of Oman’s independence. Through 50 significant objects and the elegant integration of the Sultan’s own inspiring quotes as calligraphy, this beautifully illustrated book provides a unique and personal perspective on a transformative era.

King Charles III’s affection for architecture is well-known, but the extent of his engagement has never been fully presented to the public. This is the first book to draw together the many threads, from the ‘carbuncle’ speech, made at Hampton Court in 1984, until his accession to the throne. He has created model settlements such as Poundbury through the Duchy of Cornwall, Dumfries House in East Ayrshire has been made a beacon of social regeneration, and his educational initiatives have changed lives.

The four decades of the King’s commitment to architecture have coincided with Clive Aslet’s career as a journalist, during which he has followed the story and often written about it, not least during the 13 years for which he was editor of Country Life. King Charles III: 40 Years of Architecture is based on new research including many interviews with the architects, critics, advisors and academics who worked with the (then) Prince of Wales on his far-reaching endeavors.

Everyday Indian Aesthetic is a unique documentation of India, depicted through aesthetics as seen in architecture, adornments, objects, colors, textures, patterns, and typography. It celebrates the diversity of the country while highlighting the identities and functionality associated with everyday design. With more than 400 photographs taken during Sayali Goyal’s travels around rural and small-town India, she invites you to take a personal journey and interpret the richness of Indian design that is based on form and functionality with an element of the unusual. This photo book will let you wander through the pages without restricting the way you see and discover how design has the capacity to document cultural exchange whilst holding the past in the present.

In the precious garland of the Loire castles, where the art of the Renaissance found its most beautiful French expression, served by landscapes sung by all the poets, Chenonceau is probably the most admired jewel, the most appreciated. The human scale of the château’s proportions, the ingenuity of its arrangements, the unique poetry of the place, a river that a castle seems to cross with great strides to pass from one bank to another… so much beauty attracts lovers from all over the world.

An architect and a critic discuss what unites them, common reasoning that gives rise to a dialogue that establishes a link between buildings, built or just thought of, and images taken from the artistic tradition, mainly Italian. The result is a presentation of Peluffo & Partners’ architecture seen through the spaces, bodies and figures drawn from suggestions from the world of art, ancient and contemporary, cinema and architecture itself.

The volume includes shots by Ernesta Caviola, who has consistently photographed the architecture of Peluffo & Partners and collaborated in the fine-tuning of the images.

Giant Willow Oak by Amanda Sauer is an intimate meditation on time, nature, and our relationship with the living world. Through a series of deeply contemplative photographs, Sauer documents her years-long engagement with a single majestic willow oak in Washington, D.C. This tree, a towering presence in the U.S. National Arboretum, becomes a silent witness to the passing of seasons and shifting light. Sauer’s approach is both scientific and poetic—she circles the tree counterclockwise, mirroring the Earth’s rotation, creating an orbit of reverence and discovery. The resulting images capture the subtle transformations of bark, leaves, and shadow, revealing the quiet power of patient observation. Handcrafted with exquisite attention to detail, Giant Willow Oak is not just a photographic study but a lyrical homage to endurance, change, and the profound presence of trees in our collective memory. A testament to the interplay between nature and artistic vision.

The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide series is written in collaboration with Club Oenologique, with comprehensive listings of restaurants, hotels, cafés and bars, points of wider cultural interest such as art galleries and museums, which wineries you can visit, how to read a Swiss wine list, Swiss winemakers’ favorite restaurants and more.

The third book in the Dédale series is Laura. Journey into the Crystal by George Sand, first published in 1864. Exploiting a fairy-tale narrative structure, George Sand actually sketches an imaginary universe, in which dimensional scales lose their meaning and everything is strongly influenced by the knowledge in geological matters. The scientific aspect, which was also known to Sand, is transfigured to the point that minerals begin to take on symbolic value and become cloaked in fascination and mystery.

The genesis of the novel and the echoes of Sand’s personal events are recounted in the preface edited by Isabelle Bardiès-Fronty.

The book is also enriched by the works of Wenzel Hablik, a Czech-born painter who later settled in Germany and who, a few decades after George Sand, was similarly enchanted by minerals and, in particular, crystals: his paintings, halfway between utopian architecture and fascinating fantasy, are a valuable rediscovery and seem to come from the same imaginary universe narrated by the French writer.