Thames&Hudson

For her fifth book with Steidl, Mona Kuhn has entered the heart of the American desert and returned with a sequence of pictures that is seductive, enigmatic and a little unsettling. Private proposes a world in which concrete reality and the imaginary are one. Plants and animals on the edge of survival, sun-drenched landscapes and wind-sculpted earth are intercut with a series of nudes that push Kuhn's renowned sensitivity to human form into unexpected directions. The result is a book somewhere between the poetry of TS Eliot, the cinema of Robert Altman, and a lucid dream.

The Chinese language is traditionally taught through a series of between roughly 180 and 215 radicals. These radicals are then used to form the characters of the Chinese language. Chineasy has broken down this collection of characters into their most basic and recurring forms, allowing students to learn fewer and simpler radicals that we have termed building blocks. One building block, or a specific compound form of the building block can be combined with one or more other characters to make a compound character. Two or more independent characters can be placed next to one another to make phrases. In compounds, a whole new character is created; in phrases, the placement of characters next to one another gives a new meaning to the collection of characters. This principle of building blocks is what makes Chineasy so easy!

The Chinese language is traditionally taught through a series of between roughly 180 and 215 radicals. These radicals are then used to form the characters of the Chinese language. Chineasy has broken down this collection of characters into their most basic and recurring forms, allowing students to learn fewer and simpler radicals that we have termed building blocks. One building block, or a specific compound form of the building block can be combined with one or more other characters to make a compound character. Two or more independent characters can be placed next to one another to make phrases. In compounds, a whole new character is created; in phrases, the placement of characters next to one another gives a new meaning to the collection of characters. This principle of building blocks is what makes Chineasy so easy!

Comics, manga, bandes dessinees, fumetti, tebeo, historietas... no matter the name, they have been a powerful medium across four continents for decades. This is the history of comics around the world from the late 1960s to the dawn of the 21st century. Comics is a richly illustrated narrative of extraordinary scope. Examples from all over the world include everything from Crumb and Kirby to RAW; from Metal Hurlant to Marjane Satrapi to nouvelle manga; from both the American mainstream and underground to the evolving and influential British scene. The images here are bright and colorful, dark and brooding, arresting and pleasant, all at the same time. An unprecedented collection includes around 260 expertly chosen illustrations, many reproduced in full-page format for more sophisticated analysis.The authors, two uniquely positioned and knowledgeable authorities, are the first to write a broadly comprehensive history of this most accessible, democratic, and occasionally subversive modern popular art form, displaying an intimate familiarity with schools and styles, writers, artists, and companies across countries and generations. In showing us both post-apocalyptic dreamscapes and portraits of the everyday, Comics looks at this thirty-plus year period through a very unique lens.

Mr Porter, the global online retail destination for mens style, continues to provide essential, male-friendly guidance with the release of the third volume in the series. Mr Porter proves that, when it comes to shopping for fashion, men no longer need to endure the bustle of town and can instead enjoy the very best of menswear and lifestyle from the comfort of their desks or sofas. Simply yet elegantly designed, it offers insider tips on style and etiquette plus exclusive interviews with an array of talented names including Tinie Tempah, Dominic Cooper, Damon Albarn and Ray Winstone plus the best new travel hot spots, grooming advice, gadgets and more. Volume Three sees a whole host of new features and ideas from Knacks such as How to Undress in Front of a Lady to How to Roast a Lamb, it also tackles common style concerns such as the best ways to look fresh for the office and the perfect wedding ensembles. Including a new set of Style Icons, the coolest classic cars and a comprehensive guide to the worlds coffee its the perfect slice of life and style for men.

Twenty years after Modern Lovers, a body of work on androgyny and transgender created when AIDS was at its peak, Bettina Rheims now presents her Gender Studies. She writes: Yesterday, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, I was strolling along the Seine trying to reach the right bank. Paris was full of police cars blocking access to the bridges, while masses of people, normal families, were rushing towards the center of town. They were carrying aggressive banners displaying homophobic and racist statements, and refused to acknowledge the existence of gender theory. Three years earlier I had placed an ad on Facebook encouraging young men and women who felt different to contact my studio. We received dozens of replies, from all over the world, like faraway calls wanting to be heard. It was my aim to show them and give them a voice-to acknowledge them. They came to the studio, exposed themselves shyly, and I photographed them just like that. In the light of current controversial debates on gender theory, Rheims' models display remarkable courage by questioning, modifying and celebrating their identities.

A national pantheon of the greatest names in British history and culture, the Collection of the National Portrait Gallery contains more than 11,000 paintings, sculptures and works on paper and over a quarter of a million photographs. There are kings and queens, courtiers and courtesans, politicians and poets, soldiers and scientists, artists and writers, philosophers and film stars individuals from every sphere. This book presents a broad selection of the personalities that have shaped the last four centuries of British life, from Elizabeth I to David Beckham, from Shakespeare to Seamus Heaney, portrayed by artists as diverse as Hans Holbein, David Bailey, Joshua Reynolds and Paula Rego. The featured works are arranged chronologically in sections, each of which is prefaced by a text written by the curator responsible for that period, drawing on their expert knowledge and recent research. Each image is accompanied by an extended caption that provides key information on the sitter and the artist and places the work in its historical and creative context. Special features, which include making art in Tudor Britain, miniatures, sculpture, early photography, twenty-and twenty-first-century photography, self-portraits, celebrity and non-traditional media, offer insight into particular areas of the Collection. A fascinating introductory essay explains the history and purpose of this great public institution and is illustrated with a wealth of rare and illuminating material from the Gallery's extensive archive, including photographs, plans, letters and sketchbooks, some previously unpublished.

This book charts contemporary illustration's rich history: from the rampant idealism of the 1960s to the bleak realism of the 1970s, and from the over-blown consumerism of the 1980s to the digital explosion of the 1990s, followed by the increasing diversification of illustration in the early twenty-first century. The book explores the contexts in which the discipline has operated and looks historically, sociologically, politically, and culturally at the key factors at play across each decade, while artworks by key illustrators bring the decade to life. Contemporary illustration's impact and influence on design and popular culture are investigated through introductory essays and profiles of leading practitioners, illustrated with examples of the finest work.

Skywood has been called a house that turns lifestyle into a work of art and one that offers a masterclass in architectures power to excite and inspire. As a structure, it reflects rigour and attention to detail, attributes that its creator, Graham Phillips, credits both to his time at Foster & Partners, and to his experiences of buildings he loves, from Mies van der Rohes Barcelona Pavilion and Luis Barragans house in Mexico City, to the serene composition of Japanese gardens. Skywood House garnered immediate acclaim from the architectural and popular press. It also became a favoured setting for television and film producers, who found in its pure form and exquisite geometries the perfect backdrop for an array of dramatic scenarios. Known as the Va Va Voom house for its appearance in the 2005 Renault Clio television advert featuring the football titan Thierry Henry, Skywood continues to attract a popular and critical audience. And Phillipss further projects, carried out as an independent architect, resonate with the same sense of precision and elegance.

During many eras of architectural history, builders and architects aimed to construct buildings with pure shapes and clear geometry, while foregoing decorative elements. With the advent of Classical Modernity, minimalism has become a seminal architectural style. However, the approach of architects cannot be limited to Mies van der Roh s dogma of Less is more, but corresponds rather to Less is all you need. Based on a select range of contemporary buildings, this book examines the question of how compelling esthetic impressions and expressions can be achieved with reduced shapes. Representing various types of structures, the chosen examples are mostly based on the concept of a simple comprehensive overall shape, focus on a few main materials as means of expression, and are comparatively simple to implement. Despite, or perhaps due to, the consistently applied limitations, the results are extremely remarkable.

From the earliest days of Hollywood, the pressures of fame led to a febrile atmosphere among its stars. The magic of the movies made audiences pulses quicken, but what was really happening in the lives of the actors up on the silver screen? Hollywood Love Stories looks at 14 real-life love affairs across the golden age of the movies, from the 1920s to the 1970s. From the swashbuckling romance between Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, and the poignant lifelong affair between Spencer Tracey and Katherine Hepburn, to the scandalous liaison between Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini, each account offers insights and surprises, accompanied by wonderful images and ephemera that bring every love affair vividly alive.

Casual Sweet Clothes offers you gorgeous tops, dresses, jackets and skirts with a designer edge. Simple step-by-step instructions and diagrams guide you through the process of sewing each garment, and the full-size patterns included at the back of the book guarantee perfectly fitting results every time. The 18 simple but stylish casual pieces in this book make the foundation of a hand-made wardrobe that will last for years.

Inventions that Didn t Change the World is a fascinating visual tour through some of the most bizarre inventions registered with the British authorities in the nineteenth century. In an era when Britain was the workshop of the world, design protection (nowadays patenting) was all the rage, and the apparently lenient approval process meant that all manner of bizarre curiosities were painstakingly recorded, in beautiful color illustrations and well-penned explanatory text, alongside the genuinely great inventions of the period. Irreverent commentary contextualizes each submission as well as taking a humorous view on how each has stood the test of time. This book introduces such gems as a ventilating top hat; an artificial leech; a design for an aerial machine adapted for the arctic regions; an anti-explosive alarm whistle; a tennis racket with ball-picker; and a currant-cleaning machine. Here is everything the end user could possibly require for a problem he never knew he had. Organized by area of application industry, clothing, transportation, medical, health and safety, the home, and leisure Inventions that Didn t Change the World reveals the concerns of a bygone era giddy with the possibilities of a newly industrialized world.

High up in mountains around the world, houses that have long been constructed following local building traditions are being transformed. Intrepid young architects using new technologies and materials are refashioning these traditions, with results that range from gemutlich (cozy) retreats to glamorous hilltop villas. Houses are presented in three sections: Cabin, Chalet, and Villa. Photographs of each house reveal its architecture, interior design, and striking setting, while plans provide an additional layer of information. Texts tell the story of how the dwelling was sited to make the most of its location, how new construction innovations were introduced, and how these solutions provide a comfortable space from which families can enjoy the great outdoors. While our cities become ever more concentrated, there is an increasing desire to experience nature as directly as possible. From the Highlands of Scotland to the breathtaking summits of the Alps and the adrenaline-fuelled mountain resorts of California, Mountain Modern is a journey to the most stunning homes of our planet.

The first monograph devoted to this Italian architect and designer, exploring his twenty-year career. The works by Federico Delrosso (b. 1964) reflect the teachings of modernists-especially Gio Ponti, Ernesto Nathan Rogers, and Le Corbusier. This monograph is a complete overview of architectural plans for private and commercial buildings, interior decor, and design projects created over the past twenty years.

The physical model is an important communication tool for architects. Although the proliferation of CAD programmes has enabled the creation of increasingly complex computer models and virtual environments, there is also a growing need to address the three-dimensional qualities of architecture that may be lost when using such media. This book focuses on the inspiring possibilities for modelling the built environment with all the different media and techniques available. In describing the use of different models in different contexts, the book provides a practical guide to how and why models are used, and what they are used for. This second edition includes more detailed step-by-step exercises, expanded discussion of materials and techniques, updated coverage of digital techniques and new case studies.

Landscape photography is one of the arts most accessible areas, whether you're just starting out or refining your vision. This book reveals the palette of techniques that will make your photography stand out from the crowd and win a place on a gallery wall. While other writers and bloggers concentrate on the technical aspects of landscape, this book will help you put those practical skills which are all in these pages too into use in a wider variety of ways, including styles popular with contemporary art customers. Readers will also gain an insight into how the Icelandic author was able to break out onto the global stage using online communities; invaluable advice for photographers at any stage in their career, but especially those at the start of it.

One of Andrew Wyeths most important paintings, Wind from the Sea, a recent gift to the National Gallery of Art, is also the artists first full realization of the window as a recurring subject in his art. Wyeth returned to windows over the next sixty years, producing more than 250 works that explore both the formal and conceptual richness of the subject. Spare, elegant and abstract, these paintings are free of the narrative element inevitably associated with Wyeths better-known figural compositions. In 2014 the Gallery will present an exhibition of a select group of these deceptively realistic works, window paintings that are in truth skilfully manipulated constructions engaged with the visual complexities posed by the transparency, beauty and formal structure of windows. In its exclusive focus on paintings without human subjects, this catalogue will offer a new approach to Wyeths work, being the first time that his non-figural compositions have been published as a group. The authors explore Wyeths fascination with windows their formal structure and metaphorical complexity. In essays that address links with the poetry of Robert Frost and the paintings of Edward Hopper, Charles Sheeler and Franz Kline, the authors consider Wyeths statement that he was, in truth, an abstract painter.

The Chateau de Versailles is one of the most beautiful and fascinating achievements of eighteenth-century French art. This unique book offers readers unprecedented access to this historical treasure. The world's most iconic chateau has welcomed tourists the world over, yet this handsome slipcased volume offers up the charm of a thousand and one hidden places in the chateau, its gardens, and pavilions. All were designed to surprise and delight the eye and all the senses at every turn, their ornate decoration forming an integral part of the elite lifestyle of the eighteenth century. This comprehensive volume captures the exquisite setting and inimitable ambience of Versailles and its gardens, from its intimate private spaces usually closed to the general public to the charming Petit Trianon and dairy farm created for the pure pleasure of Marie-Antoinette.

In the summer of 1937, Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus and a professor at Harvard's new Graduate School of Design, rented a house on Planting Island, near the base of Cape Cod. There, he and his wife, Ise, hosted a festive reunion of Bauhaus masters and students who had recently emigrated from Europe: Marcel Breuer, Herbert Bayer, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Xanti Schawinsky and others. Together they feasted, swam and planned their futures on a new continent, all sensing they were on the cusp of a momentous new phase in their lives. Yet even as they moved on, the group never lost its connection to the Cape Cod coast. Several members returned, when they had the means, to travel farther up the peninsula, rent cabins, buy land and design their ideal summer homes. Thus began a chapter in the history of modern architecture that has never been told until now. The flow of talent onto the Outer Cape continued and, within a few years, the area was a hotbed of intellectual currents from New York, Boston, Cambridge and the country's top schools of architecture and design. Avant-garde homes began to appear in the woods and on the dunes; by the 1970s, there were about 100 modern houses of interest here. In this story, we meet, among others, the Boston Brahmins Jack Phillips and Nathaniel Saltonstall; the self-taught architect, carpenter and painter Jack Hall; the Finn Olav Hammarstrom, who had worked for Alvar Aalto; and the prolific Charlie Zehnder, who brought the lessons of both Frank Lloyd Wright and Brutalism to the Cape. Initially, these designers had no clients; they built for themselves and their families, or for friends sympathetic to their ideals. Their homes were laboratories, places to work through ideas without spending much money. The result of this ferment is a body of work unlike any other, a regional modernism fusing the building traditions of Cape Cod fishing towns with Bauhaus concepts and postwar experimentation.

Francisco Goya has been widely celebrated as the most important Spanish artist of the late-eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the last of the old masters and the first of the moderns, and an astute observer of the human condition in all its complexity. The many-layered and shifting meanings of his work have made him one of the most studied artists in the world. Few, however, have made the ambitious attempt to explore his work as a painter, printmaker and draftsman across media and the timeline of his life. This book does just that, presenting a comprehensive and integrated view of Goya's most important paintings, prints, and drawings through the themes and imagery that continually challenged or preoccupied the artist. They reveal how he strove relentlessly to understand and describe human behavior and emotional states, even at their most orderly or disorderly extremes, in elegant and incisive portraits, dramatic and monumental history paintings, and series of prints and drawings of a satirical, disturbing and surreal nature. Derived from the research for the largest Goya art exhibition in North America in a quarter-century, this book takes a fresh look at one of the greatest artists in history by examining the fertile territory between the two poles that defined the range of his boundlessly creative personality. Francisco Jose Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) was born in Fuendetodos, Aragon, in the northeast of Spain. Goya was court painter to the Spanish Crown, and famously documented the Peninsular War (1807-1814) between France and Spain in his harrowing Disasters of War series. An important bridge to the modernist era, Goya's oeuvre provided a crucial precedent for artists such as Manet, Picasso and Francis Bacon.

This vibrant new survey sets the agenda both for fashion photography and inspirational and innovative image-making in the decade ahead. Leading curator and writer Magdalene Keaney has selected over thirty photographers the emerging talents that hold the prospect of creating enduring fashion images and influencing the cultural and style trends of tomorrow. The world of fashion is obsessed with freshness and youth, and Fashion Photography Next embraces that obsession, looks beyond what is now. From Axel Hoedt s bold graphic experimentation to color-saturated, hyperreal images by Daniel Jackson or the cool, neutral aesthetic of Hanna Putz, the work is diverse, sometimes shocking, utterly memorable. Profiles and critiques of thirty of the hottest careers in fashion photography, an Introduction that considers the evolution of the art form, and provocative images that speak for themselves, make Fashion Photography Next the roster of rising stars for the industry to watch and aspiring photographers to emulate.

This is the first volume to consider comprehensively the role of architectural education in the 21st century. Many students come to architecture relatively late in their education, so it is in college where they come into contact with those who will influence their entire careers. Many top schools are run by leading global practitioners, who, some might argue, have more lasting influence as educators than as architects. The wide range of pedagogical philosophies and practical lessons, set out in specially commissioned essays, creates a fascinating picture of how our ideas and practices of architecture are formed, nurtured and ultimately built for the world to see. Through both the professional and educational experience of the contributors, we discover many unexpected and unorthodox methods for teaching those who will build our world.

Architecture on the water has changed from a fringe niche market into an increasingly popular sector. Catalyst is the risk of rising water levels accompanied by storms and floods as part of the climate change and the unforeseen effects of urbanization. Expanding the habitable areas to beyond the waterfront is an efficient and exciting way to bring extra flexibility to the planet s inhabited spaces. Floating constructions enlarge the built environment while making it more livable and sustainable. Apart from the long tradition of floating residential architecture, buildings of all types are being erected on water today. The selection of projects in this volume provides an insightful overview of the multitude of concepts in this new field of design.