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Thames and Hudson
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Laurie Simmons is one of the first contemporary American photographers to have created elaborately-staged narrative photographs. Using dolls to act out piquant scenarios within specially constructed environments, she has slyly commented on contemporary culture while re-creating a sense of the 50s that I knew was both beautiful and lethal. Prodigiously creative — she has produced some thirteen or fourteen fully developed series since the 1970s — Simmons uses highly saturated color and large formats, ranging from 20 by 24 inches to more recent work as large as 84 by 48 inches. Housewives, ballerinas, cowboys, tourists, and ventriloquists` dummies populate her diverse tableaux, which are often infused with a bittersweet sense of nostalgia yet charged with a disquieting sense of dislocation. In Laurie Simmons: Walking, Talking, Lying, Kate Linker concentrates on selected series — from Ventriloquism, Walking Objects, and Lying Objects to the 1997 Self-Portraits and the Cafe of the Inner Mind — to illuminate ideas that cut through the artist`s entire body of work. Of particular interest are the willfully ambiguous interplay between objects, figures, and backgrounds, and the way specific things (toys, cakes, guns) and settings (suburban interiors, theatrical stages) take on strange powers in Simmons`s photographs. As Linker makes clear, the artist`s use of narrative links her to a number of contemporary fiction writers, while her fondness for artifice, advertising, childhood memory, and unabashed eclecticism relates to — and has helped shape — the heated debates of the past thirty-some years about the nature of photography. |
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visual feast of 400 dazzling images, this is a comprehensive survey of the genre over the last century. The book also offers an overview of the development of fashion, as seen through the eyes of the greatest illustrators of the day. It is an invaluable resource for art and fashion professionals and a beautiful design object for consumers everywhere. |
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The Japanese photographer and artist Nobuyoshi Araki is known for his provocative pictures. Influenced by Shunga, the erotic art of the Edo period (1603–1867), as well as the glossy imagery of contemporary culture, much of Araki’s work confronts taboo subjects such as sex, nudity and death head on. Subjects range from poetic scenes of old Tokyo to modern Japanese sub-culture, from sensual close-ups of exotic flowers to erotic photographs of kimono-clad women bound in rope. This compact book surveys and reflects Araki’s extraordinary breadth of work, from the shocking to the sublime. PHOTOFILE brings together the best work of the world’s greatest photographers, in an attractive format and at an easily affordable price. Handsome and collectable, the books are produced to the highest standards. Each volume contains some sixty full-page reproductions printed in superb duotone, together with a critical introduction and a full bibliography. The series has been awarded the first annual prize for distinguished photographic books by the International Center of Photography, New York. |
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Famous all over the world for his composite heads made up of plants, fruit and animals, Arcimboldo still remains, paradoxically, a painter shrouded in mystery. This important monograph proposes to reveal the eclecticism of one of the most fertile and lively minds of the Mannerist period, placing him in the cultural context in which he lived and worked. In addition to the artist's anamorphic heads, this volume includes an important selection of his paintings (among which, numerous previously unpublished portraits), tapestries, drawings and illustrations, realised throughout his life, from the period of his training in Lombardy to his time at the Hapsburg court. |
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Alastair Duncan introduces us to the work of more than eighty architects, furniture makers and interior designers. The colour and monochrome photographs – almost all of them specially commissioned for this book – form a valuable portfolio of Art Deco furniture for anyone seeking comprehensive information about this design movement. This volume will have lasting appeal for collectors as well as the general public. |
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Sicilian Baroque architecture was open to the whole world of European Baroque and yet stubbornly protective of its own unique identity. Sicilian Baroque was once described by Anthony Blunt as the style ‘in which the energy and imagination of the south attained full and mature expression’. This volume superbly affirms that this era in the island’s history was a crucial phase in Western civilization. Through analysis and above all by revelatory photography it seeks to define what makes the Baroque of Sicily distinctive: • How does it differ from the Baroque not only of other countries but also from that of other Italian regions? • How was it possible to impose that particular character upon churches and palaces, sculpture and painting? • What was the role of ‘capital’ cities such as Palermo and Catania, and smaller towns like Noto? • To what extent did it absorb styles from abroad, both through travel and through pictures and treatises? • How decisive was that Sicilian speciality, the earthquake, as a factor in change and renewal? |
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In the public perception as well as the privacy of the home the bath has transformed itself to a freely designed adventurous space. Peace and repose are a priority; inspirations for contemporary concepts and designs are drawn from all different kinds of bath cultures worldwide. The spa as a social trend offers balsam for the soul and for the body a sensuous break from everyday reality. The present volume, rich in information, illustrations and plan material, provides an insight into the fantastic creativity of modern bath and spa architecture by featuring more than 60 projects from around the world. The Hotel Puerta America is one of the highlights: Each floor has been designed by a different architect, including Zaha Hadid, Ron Arad and the team Javier Mariscal & Fernando Salas. In this way, baths with very individual styles have emerged — each, a masterpiece in its own right. Another gem: The new spa in the town of Bath by Grimshaw is a fascinating interplay between tradition and modernity. From private baths that encourage relaxation, to the luxury wellness temples: In this book, you can visually experience the coming together of solid and fluid elements in architecture and interior design. |
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«What do Burt Reynolds, Shaquille O'Neal, Goldie Hawn and John Travolta have in common? At some point in time, they, and so many others, all decided to record horrible music albums. In «Celebrity Vinyl», Tom Hamling humorously examines what happens when famous people decide to (unsuccessfully) give singing a try. The number of celebrities that have indulged such hubris boggles the mind: Eddie Murphy, Ed McMahon, Alyssa Milano, Chevy Chase, The Dallas Cowboys.Hamling owns and thoroughly enjoys the world's biggest and best celebrity vinyl collection (more than 115 albums). Join him on this personal tour of his kooky passion as he critiques the celebrities in question, as well as the photography, typography, art direction and album copy that make each and every one of these album sleeves so curiously compelling.»Celebrity Vinyl» serves as a pop-culture microscope that reveals the nuances and blemishes of vinyl and celebrity cultures from a bygone era that will make you laugh more now then you did back then.» |
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Dazzling clothes, intricate accessories, beautiful models and timeless design leave no doubt as to the lasting fame and the magic of Chanel. Here the House of Chanel opens its private archives, revealing a galaxy of brilliant designs created by Coco Chanel from the 1920s onwards, and now reinterpreted to become the motifs for brand new garments, accessories and beauty products. Inspired by the legendary Chanel No 5, the book explores five themes – the suit, the camellia, jewelry, fragrances and make-up, and the little black dress – and follows the threads from past to present to show how these key items have been rediscovered and reinvented by fashion designers working in the footsteps of their illustrious predecessors. This visual journey is enhanced by previously unpublished archive photographs and original drawings by Karl Lagerfeld, as well as glorious images from some of the greatest names in fashion photography. |
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Here are all the ships, the routes, and destinations for cruise aficionados – and for those still waiting to be inspired. The Contemporary Cruise is the one indispensable book on the subject. There are cruise options to suit every taste, from the all-in fun and entertainment of the latest floating resorts, to the quiet elegance of a classic tall ship. A World of Possibility... • Leave your stresses on land as you indulge in chic style, spa pampering and gourmet cuisine • Drop anchor alongside some the world’s most gorgeous and secluded beaches. • See wild penguins in the Antarctic or giant turtles on the Galapagos Islands. • Relive the romance of the age of sail on a classic tall ship • Discover the culture and nightlife of fascinating city destinations. Through cruising you can discover the world while your ‘hotel’ travels with you. It is a wonderful way of unwinding away from the stresses and hassles of ordinary life on land. Relaxation, pampering, fine food, exotic destinations – it’s not difficult to see why holidays at sea have never been more popular. You could choose to make an Atlantic crossing on a classic ocean liner, or to journey along the magnificent Norwegian coastline deep into the Arctic Circle. Or how about a river cruise to explore the ancient civilization of the Yangtze or the Nile? |
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«Costume Worldwide» combines the studies of two classic 19th-century illustrators, Auguste Racinet and Friedrich Hottenroth, alongside an illuminating modern text. Their works are presented first by chronology and then by subject, so that illustrators, historians and students alike can choose to follow the path of fashion through the centuries, or study in detail the contrasting styles of individual clothing and accessories. With an authoritative narrative from a leading expert in the history of costume, extraordinary contemporary quotes that reveal the impact in its day, detailed annotation and an extensive glossary, the book provides a magnificent study of the rich vocabulary of clothes through the ages.» |
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This expanded and updated edition of John Peacock’s unrivalled collection of drawings ranges over eleven centuries of English historical costume. More than a thousand illustrations, based on surviving garments and contemporary paintings and photographs, demonstrate the astonishing changes in men’s and women’s clothing over the centuries – from the simple tunics and gowns of the eleventh century to the petticoat breeches and ostrich-plumed hats of Charles II’s reign to the T-shirts and shorts of today. Clear and detailed drawings, plus notes that pinpoint specific features such as fabric, decoration, accessories and cut, make each costume immediately comprehensible. Completely up to date, and with a new chart showing the main changes in fashion through the centuries, this is an essential reference for students of theatrical design and fashion, drama groups and anyone interested in the history of costume. |
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Customizing is hot. Everything can be customized: from pimped cars to retro furniture. This major trend is especially popular in footwear. Customizing your own shoes is a way of stepping out of the crowd, of showing your personality. And, just about every sneaker brand has found a way to put street art into their products; rain boots have never been more hip; and there are even Customize festivals and exhibitions.By inviting 150 artists and illustrators to show/create customized shoes the book will appeal not only to sneaker freaks, fashion fetishists and trend watchers, but also to the graphic design and art audience. The main focus is on the artwork but the text examines the trend and asks: how did it start? What materials do the artists use? There are also tips and tricks on how to create your very own unique shoes. |
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Featuring innovative and stylish interior products that all design-savvy parents will want for their children, Designed for Kids is the first such guide for children from the nursery up. Sourced from around the world, the book presents more than 450 cutting-edge products that are all aesthetically pleasing and technologically advanced. Informative texts review the strengths, materials and specifications of each item, while interviews with six internationally acclaimed design visionaries offer a professional perspective on the delights and challenges of designing for kids. • A massive visual resource, with over 750 colour illustrations that show each design in context and detail • Includes interviews with six leading lights of design: Scott Wilson, Yves Béhar, Paola Antonelli, Tom Dixon, Greg Lynn and John Maeda • Attractive format designed for reference and inspiration, and organized into categories related to the needs of children and their parents |
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Edward Steichen was already a famous painter and photographer when, in 1923, he was offered one of the most prestigious and most lucrative positions in photography – that of chief photographer for Condé Nast’s Vogue and Vanity Fair. Over the next fifteen years, Steichen produced an oeuvre of unequalled brilliance, dramatizing and glamorizing contemporary culture and its achievers – in politics, literature, journalism, dance, theatre, opera and, above all, the world of high fashion. The 1920s and 1930s represent the high point in Edward Steichen’s photographic career, and the work he did for Condé Nast will stand forever among the most striking creations of 20th-century photography. The list of Steichen’s portraits is astounding in its range. Steichen created a new style of fashion photography: his crisp, detailed, high-key style is a strong wind felt in the field to this day – George Hoyningen-Huene, Horst P. Horst, Richard Avedon, Robert Mapplethorpe and Bruce Weber are only his most illustrious descendants. The Steichen archive at Condé Nast contains more than two thousand original vintage prints. A few of the images are well-known and indeed feature as iconic images in various histories of photography. Until now, however, no more than a handful of these prints has been exhibited or published. |
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Drawing upon an impressive array of original sources, English Style and Decoration offers a cornucopia of design riches. Lavishly illustrated with page after page of original sketches and printed patterns for furniture, textiles, flooring, wallpaper, glass, ceramics and household utensils, from doorknobs to tableware and light fittings. Like its companion volume, French Style and Decoration, this superb reference provides a wealth of ideas and inspiration for designers, restorers, interior decorators and homeowners. • An unrivalled sourcebook of English design and decoration during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. • Includes the works of such designers as Kent, Chippendale, Hepplewhite, Adam, Sheraton, Pugin, Morris, Voysey, Liberty and Gimson, as well as many unnamed artist-designers. • Ilustrations drawn from rarely reproduced sources: design books, pattern books, shape books, swatch books, company archives, manufacturers’ and retail catalogues. |
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Spray-on dresses, growable suits and self-cleaning shirts may soon become everyday items. This visionary exploration of where fashion and clothing are headed provides the first guide to the astonishing ways in which contemporary science and technology are shaping what we wear. Fashioning the Future examines the work of those scientific researchers and fashion designers, such as Issey Miyake, Hussein Chalayan and Walter Van Beirendonck, who are transforming today’s science fiction into tomorrow’s reality. Fashioning the Future is essential for those interested in the long-term future of fashion, design and lifestyle – as well as for everyone wanting to know how to stand out from the crowd. |
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This book traces the extraordinary life of an artist whose unforgettable imagery combined cruelty and wit, honesty and insolence, pain and empowerment. Admired by the Surrealists and photographed by the greatest, Frida was most renowned for her self-portraits and unusual still lifes. She learned about suffering at an early age. She contracted polio when she was six and was seriously maimed in a bus accident at the age of eighteen, which led to injuries that affected her for the rest of her life. She had a legendarily turbulent marriage to the great mural painter Diego Rivera, with whom she formed a strong attachment to indigenous Mexican folk art and a deep commitment to Communism. |
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This volume provides a complete overview of the major exhibition of masterpieces by Giorgio Morandi at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Museo d'Arte Moderna in Bologna (MAMbo). Over one hundred paintings, watercolors, drawings, and etchings illustrate the artist's entire creative and poetic course from the landscapes and still lifes of 1913-1914 to his final works of 1963-1964. Particular attention is focused on the masterpieces of the 1920s and 1930s, in which Morandi perfected his extraordinary approach to image making through in-depth investigation of the world and of human existence as filtered through the metaphor of the still life. |
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