The photographs, drawings and texts published in this book are part of a collection of more than 3000 tattoos accumulated over a lifetime by prison attendant Danzig Baldev. Tattoos were his gateway into a secret world in which he acted as ethnographer, recording the rituals of a closed society. The icons and tribal languages he documented are artful, distasteful, sexually explicit and sometimes just strange, reflecting as they do the lives and traditions of Russian convicts. These are the signs by which the people of this hidden world mark and identify themselves.

This book is an inspirational exploration of the signs and symbols of a wealth of global cultures from ancient times to the present day. It brings together some of the world's most potent sacred images under three categories — peoples, religions and mysteries. Through an incredibly rich array of fascinating images drawn from ritual, myth and the natural world, Sacred Symbols reveals the quintessence of a multiplicity of beliefs and experiences. It is the perfect introduction to the timeless wisdoms of humankind.

Shopping is an event which implies much more than just the act of purchasing. Unusual design concepts and immaculate shapes engage all of our senses, making shopping a unique experience. The range is complete between minimalist designs with reduced colors and forms, to spaces with a cozy, imaginative salon-like ambience.

«Photographer Robert Lebeck was interested not only in «the event» in and of itself, but also in the stories on the fringes and the people behind the images. Lebeck was frequently to be found in that elusive terrain most photographers dream of: the right place at the right time. When he took the photo «Rapier Thief» on his tour of Africa in 1960, for instance, he captured a symbolic portrait of the end of European colonial power--an image which has since become a classic of press photography. His photographs of Japan contrast the wealth of a few with the poverty of many. And when he photographed in the Soviet Union in 1962, he demonstrated a rare understanding of its culture. This handsomely slipcased three-volume monograph gathers images from Moscow, Tokyo and Leopoldville (current-day Kinshasa). These pictures of Africa, Asia and the Soviet Union, mostly made in the early 1960s, show a world in upheaval, a world in which extremes were colliding. Furthermore, they suggests that there is much more to be considered than that which is presented in the photographic image.»

«The art of sculpture in Baroque Italy reached unprecedented heights of technical perfection and emotional intensity. This book offers a view of this rich and varied period, ranging from the exuberance of Gianlorenzo Bernini's «Apollo and Daphne» and Nicola Salvi's ever-popular Trevi Fountain to the restraint and simplicity of Alessandro Algardi's «St Philip Neri». Expressive papal tombs and subtly idealized portrait busts reflected contemporary debates on identity and the afterlife; multi-sensory compositions such as Bernini's Cornano Chapel embodied an unforgettable and wholly new combination of spirituality and sensuality; and dazzling fountains and angelic statuary transformed the urban spaces of the Eternal City forever.»

The classic Photofile series brings together the best work of the world’s greatest photographers in an attractive format and at a reasonable price. Handsome and collectible, each book contains some sixty duotone photographs plus an introduction and a bibliography. 59 b&w illustrations

This book brings together a selection of the best, most iconic Paris Vogue covers from the last 90 years. A magazine thats documented trends for nearly a century provides an archive of more that just pretty pictures: these images record the history of style and elegance, of trends in fashion and design, as well as the monthly whims of popular culture. Since its beginnings, Vogue has set the benchmark for fashion magazines the world over. Radical, captivating and full of life, this is the face of the world's most influential magazine and the original style bible.

Do you wish you could take better, more exciting photos but find that your cameras manual wont tell you how? Creative Digital Photography: 52 Weekend Projects is a fun collection of handy weekend projects, offering expert insights and clear step-by-step instructions across the field of photography. You will quickly learn diverse techniques for taking and processing surprising photos, and discover how to make useful equipment for minimal cost. Whether you're making a simple diffuser for your flash, setting up a time-lapse shoot, or simply taking a chance and tossing your camera in the air, you will develop your skills to make stunning images that stand out from the crowd. Designed for photographers of all levels, the projects are graded in complexity, leaving you free to pick and choose your own path to making creative photographs — the shots that the manual wont tell you how to take.

The limitations of a tiny space, rather than inhibiting designers, often result in some of the most innovative and exciting retail design. While small shops offer the chance for famous designers to experiment and showcase their skills for the retailers who can afford them, other independent retailers will be competing for the same customers and looking for ideas to implement on their own. This book brings together some of the best recent, innovative examples of small store designs from around the world. All the shops measure less than 150 square metres (many much less), and are grouped by size, with explanations and tips from their designers. Types of outlet featured include fashion, accessories, opticians, technology, food and confectionary. The book is divided into three sections: small shops, smaller shops and tiny shops. Each section begins with an interview with a designer of a small shop, explaining the creative opportunities and difficulties in greater detail. This book will be inspirational for retail designers and small shop owners looking to create their own big statement in a small space.

'Once upon a time es war ein Vater, der, weil er alt geworden, zusammen als seine Söhne und Töchter, vier, fünf, sechs, acht an der Zahl — und schließlich überzeugt Sie, nach langem zögern, das zu tun, was er wollte. Jetzt sind Sie um einen Tisch sitzen und zu sprechen beginnen...' Dieses angenehme Fortsetzung Peeling the Onion, Günter Grass schreibt die Stimmen seiner acht Kinder, wie Sie notieren die Erinnerungen an Ihre kindheit, erwachsenwerden, von Ihrem Vater, der war immer bei der Arbeit an einem neuen Buch, immer an den Rändern Ihres Lebens. Erinnerungen widersprüchlich, kritische, Alter: anklagenden, Sie Stück zusammen ein intimes Bild der meisten öffentlichen Männer. Zu sagen, dass nichts Marie, Gras's assistant, ein Freund der Familie, der viele Jahre, vielleicht sogar ein Liebhaber, dessen snapshots getroffen, mit einem old-fashioned Agfa-box-Kamera bieten den Autor mit Ideen für seine Arbeit. Aber Ihre Bilder viel mehr zu bieten. Sie zeigen eine Wahrheit jenseits der gewöhnlichen detail des Lebens, beschreiben die Zukunft, sagen, was gewesen sein könnte, grant und Wünsche, die in visual form dieser fotografiert. Die Kinder, die spekulieren auf die Natur dieser magic, war die verzauberte Kamera eine Quelle der inspiration für Ihren Vater? Haben Sie repräsentieren die macht der Kunst selbst? War es das Auge Gottes? Die Box ist eine inspirierte und kühne Werk der Fiktion. In seiner Offenheit, Witz und Bodenständigkeit, es ist Gras von seiner besten Seite.

Paris, February 1909. An article by the Italian poet Filippo Tommaso Martinetti appears in Le Figaro. It is the Manifesto of Futurism, the movement that expressed concepts of movement and speed through simultaneous visions and dynamic lines and interpreted in an all-embracing way the new collective myth of modernity.

Examining how stories of conflict have been told in comics down the years, this book covers everything from EC Comics depictions of the US Civil War to Joe Saccos reportage on modern, assymmetric, conflicts. Comics from the First and Second World Wars are put in context, with their propaganda-driven plotlines and enemy-bashing superheroes, but the book also covers rebellious, anti-war, underground comix, horror comics, investigative journalism and more thoughtful mainstream developments such as Charleys War. War Comics: A Graphic History exposes this fascinating genre in all its many forms.

Saul Leiter is one of four new titles published this September in Thames & Hudsons acclaimed Photofile series. Each book brings together the best work of the worlds greatest photographers in an attractive format and at an easily affordable price. Hailed by The Times as finely produced, the books are printed to the highest standards. Each one contains some sixty full-page reproductions, together with a critical introduction and a full bibliography.

«The Body in Contemporary Art» presents an international survey of art made over the last two decades in which the human form is central. Featuring work across a range of media, from painting and sculpture to installation, video art and performance, the book examines the different roles played by the body in art, from being the subject of portraiture to becoming an active presence in live and participatory events. Including the work of both internationally renowned and up-and-coming artists from Francis Alys, Marlene Dumas and Matthew Barney to Oleg Kulik, Olafur Eliasson and Ernesto Neto, the book shows how the body continues to be pivotal to our understanding and expression of our place in the universe.»

Michelangelo is generally recognized as one of the greatest artists of all time, a universal genius in all fields of visual creativity—sculpture, painting, and architecture—as well as a widely admired poet. Much has been written on him. This pocket-sized history of Michelangelo’s art and life guides readers from Tondo Doni (about 1505) to the Rondanini Pietà (1564) and teaches them to easily understand his famous works as well as the lesser-known masterpieces.

Already hailed by Dazed & Confused magazine as definitive, an instant cult classic, this new collection of club flyers provides a unique visual record of London's nightlife and subcultures. Covered with inventive, unfurling doodles, hand-drawn lettering and images of sexy figures and party animals, these low-budget productions are created from drawings, tracings, photocopies, photographs, cut-outs and collages, and reference flyers first inspired by the cut-and-paste era of the late 1980s, but now given inspirational new form in the current scene. By turns provocative, subversive, shocking, decorative and witty, these flyers provide an alternative history of London's ever-changing club circuit.

Durable and easy to clean, tile has been a popular practical material for thousands of years, but its allure extends far beyond its ability to withstand wear and tear. Tile is a medium for bringing light and beauty into a space. Now, with more choices than ever before, tile has become an incredibly popular way to add personalized character to a home. In The Art of the Tile, tile enthusiast and design writer Jen Renzi walks readers through the basics, from incorporating certain materials in certain areas to installation considerations, from aesthetic aspects to pairing tiles with different patterns or materials in the same area. Focusing on choice and usability, this book is both accessible and inspiring, and will be of immense practical appeal to designers or anyone in search of ideas for their home.

The jewel-like watercolors of renowned Irish botanical artist Wendy Walsh portray a personal selection of about 100 plants that grow wild in Ireland or are cultivated in Irish gardens. Presented in 33 thematic sections, Walsh's subjects range from well-loved and distinctive native plants to exotic species introduced from the New World and Asia, unusual plants that grow in some of the most extreme environments in Ireland, and striking hybrids created by plant breeders. Lively and accessible horticultural descriptions by distinguished botanist E. Charles Nelson accompany the paintings, celebrating the story of each plant along with its natural beauty. The great gardens, famous plants men, fascinating journeys and natural phenomena that have shaped the flora of Ireland spring to life in Dr Nelsons engaging text. This elegant and unconventional guide will kindle the imagination of any plant lover or admirer of the Irish landscape.

«The premise of this book couldn't be simpler: 130 photographs of British bad boy artist Damien Hirst by the great British fashion photographer David Bailey, taken during a single shoot lasting eight minutes. Famed as the inspiration for the swinging 60s photographer character in Michelangelo Antonioni's film «Blow Up» (1966), Bailey was one of the first fashion photographers to merge with rock coterie and the international jet set. In this series of portraits, each pose is spontaneous and determined not by Bailey but by Hirst, who sticks his tongue out, mocking the camera. These photos are unrehearsed, in the spirit of Bailey's recent work, which is characterized by an easy relationship with composition and lighting and no digital manipulation. With no text or even a title page, «8 Minutes» resists the familiar, formulaic style of the usual coffee table book. Always the rogue, Bailey's message is «what you see is what you get.»

The love of fast cars has moved into top gear. From its beginnings as a rebellious underground pasttime, it has become a huge cult, spawning its own exciting subcultures in music, art and fashion. Speedseekers is the ultimate book on the world of Hot Rods and Custom Culture. Alexandra Lier spent a decade at the epicentre of the scene revving engines and burning rubber with the world's foremost mechanics, racers and adrenaline junkies. With hundreds of full colour photographs and graphics throughout, this book more exciting than a nitro-burning supercharged Hemi is the ultimate cult guide to the greatest human obsession of all going fast!