Blog

INSIDE NORTH KOREA

Erased by bombing during the Korean War, North Korea's trophy capital of Pyongyang was entirely rebuilt from scratch from 1953, in line with the vision of the nation's founder, Kim Il-sung. Designed as an imposing stage set, it is a place of grand axial boulevards linking gargantuan monuments, lined with stately piles of distinctly Korean flavor, to be "national in form and socialist in content."Under the present leader, Kim Jong-un, construction has ramped up apace-"Let us turn the whole country into a socialist fairyland," declares one of his official patriotic slogans.

ENTRYWAYS OF MILAN - INGRESSI DI MILANO

First impressions count, especially in Milano. In this unprecedented photographic journey, editor Karl Kolbitz opens the door to 144 of the city’s most sumptuous entrance halls, captivating in their diversity and splendor. These vibrant Milanese entryways, until now hidden away behind often restrained façades, are revealed as dazzling examples of Italian modernism, mediating public and private space with vivid configurations of color and form, from floors of juxtaposed stones to murals of minimalist geometry.

BEST COOKBOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS

Here you will find gift ideas for every special person in your life.

LE CORDON BLEU CHOCOLATE BIBLE : 180 RECIPES EXPLAINED BY THE CHEFS OF THE FAMOUS FRENCH CULINARY SCHOOL

180 recipes explained by the Chefs of the famous French culinary school

Discover a world where chocolate is king, where this most versatile of ingredients is transformed into luscious cakes, tarts, mousses iced desserts, drinks, biscuits and sweets. Here is the ultimate collection of tempting classics as well as a selection of new and original creations.

JOHN GALLIANO FOR DIOR

As testified by the monumental success of the recent Dior retrospective curated by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, ‘Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams’, which attracted over 700,000 visitors over its extended run, John Galliano’s creations for the house of Dior have entered fashion history and are widely recognized as some of the most breathtaking and imaginative collections ever created. John Galliano for Dior is the first publication entirely dedicated to showcasing these unforgettable designs, which have become collectors’ items and form a key chapter of the history of the house of Dior – ‘the greatest house in the world’, as Galliano stated when he was first placed at its helm.

1950S IN VOGUE : THE JESSICA DAVES YEARS 1952-1962

One of only seven editors-in-chief in American Vogue’s history, Jessica Daves has remained one of fashion’s most enigmatic figures – until now. Diana Vreeland’s direct predecessor in the role, it is Daves who first catapulted the magazine into modernity.

PRINTED IN NORTH KOREA

This incredible collection of prints dating from the 1950s to the twenty-first century is the only one of its kind in or outside North Korea. Depicting the everyday lives of the country’s train conductors, steelworkers, weavers, farmers, scientists, and fishermen, these unique lino-cut and woodblock prints are a fascinating way to explore the culture of this still virtually unknown country. Together, they are an unparalleled testament to the talent of North Korea’s artists and the unique social, cultural, and political conditions in which they work.

ANATOMY: EXPLORING THE HUMAN BODY

Anatomy: Exploring the Human Body is a visually compelling survey of more than 5,000 years of image-making. Through 300 remarkable works, selected and curated by an international panel of anatomists, curators, academics, and specialists, the book chronicles the intriguing visual history of human anatomy, showcasing its amazing complexity and our ongoing fascination with the systems and functions of our bodies. Exploring individual parts of the human body from head to toe, and revealing the intricate functions of body systems, such as the nerves, muscles, organs, digestive system, brain, and senses, this authoritative book presents iconic examples alongside rarely seen, breathtaking works.

THE LIVES OF ARTISTS

In 1959, Calvin Tomkins interviewed Marcel Duchamp for Newsweek, beginning his six- decade-long career writing about art. He then joined The New Yorker, where he has contributed dozens of profiles on the most interesting artists of the time, from Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg to Cindy Sherman and Mark Bradford. This six-volume set includes 82 of Tomkins’s most significant profiles dating from 1962 to 2019. Part art history, part human interest, Tomkins offers insights and observations about the artists, their work, and the ever-changing art world they inhabit.

SUBLIME: NEW DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE FROM JAPAN

After the visual excesses of the first decade of the new millennium, there now appears to be a distinct demand for clear and rational, yet forward-thinking, design. Seamlessly melding aesthetics, functionality, and quality while simultaneously avoiding excess has been a foundation of Japanese handicraft for hundreds of years. Creatives from Japan are masters at skillfully combining rational functionality with a contemporary sense of design in a way that seems effortless and even playful. Sublime is a comprehensive collection of the relevant trends in Japanese design that reveals the country s overall design aesthetic.

RIHANNA

Rihanna invites you into her world with this stunning visual autobiography. From her Barbados childhood to her worldwide concert tours, from quintessential fashion moments to private time with friends and family, the book showcases intimate photographs of her life as an artist, performer, designer, and entrepreneur. Impeccably produced, this sumptuous large- format volume offers unparalleled access to one of the most groundbreaking artists of our time as never before—and never again.

SINGAPORE: THE MONOCLE TRAVEL GUIDE SERIES

Singapore offers a steaming fusion of food, shopping, culture, and start-up creativity all uniquely nestled in a city ringed by shrines, rainforests, and resorts.

IRON CURTAIN GRAPHICS: EASTERN EUROPEAN DESIGN CREATED WITHOUT COMPUTERS

A common assumption is that everything was gray behind the Iron Curtain. But nothing could be farther from the truth. Socialist graphic design from the 1950s to the 1970s is startlingly innovative and colorful and a unique inspiration for current work that is being influenced by classical modernist style trends. Iron Curtain Graphics presents a selection of graphic design, illustration, and typography from the former Eastern Bloc. There, designers were bound by strict rules established by the state regarding the overall visual language they could use.

GENESIS

“In GENESIS, my camera allowed nature to speak to me. And it was my privilege to listen.” —Sebastião Salgado

On a very fortuitous day in 1970, 26-year-old Sebastião Salgado held a camera for the first time. When he looked through the viewfinder, he experienced a revelation: suddenly life made sense. From that day onward—though it took years of hard work before he had the experience to earn his living as a photographer—the camera became his tool for interacting with the world.

MAGNUM STREETWISE : THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

Magnum Streetwise is an unmissable tour through the photographs and practices that have helped define what street photography is and can be. Magnum photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson pioneered ‘modern’ concepts of street photography before the term was even coined – but their influence is far from historic. A rich seam of street photography runs through the heart of Magnum to this day, both in the work of recognized masters of street photography – such as Erwitt, Parr, Gilden and Kalvar – and of those who might not even consider themselves street photographers; a continued influence that has not gone unnoticed among the current generation of budding street photographers and fans.

TIM WALKER: SHOOT FOR THE MOON

Tim Walker’s previous monograph, Story Teller, introduced audiences to this unique photographer’s fantastical, magical worlds, conjured anew with each shoot. But every point must have its counterpoint, day its night, light its dark; creativity is no different. Shoot for the Moon, Walker’s much anticipated follow-up, draws audiences close to reveal fantasy’s other, darker side.

SEBASTIAO SALGADO: GOLD

“What is it about a dull yellow metal that drives men to abandon their homes, sell their belongings and cross a continent in order to risk life, limbs and sanity for a dream?” – Sebastião Salgado

HELMUT NEWTON SUMO 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Helmut Newton (1920–2004) always showed a healthy disdain for the easy or predictable, so it’s no surprise that the SUMO was an irresistible project. The idea of a book the size of a private exhibition, with spectacular images reproduced to state-of-the-art origination and printing standards, emerged from an open, experimental dialogue between photographer and publisher. With the SUMO weighing in—boxed and shrink-wrapped—at 35.4 kg (just under 80 pounds), Newton created a landmark book that stood head and shoulders above anything previously attempted, both in terms of conceptual extravagance and technical specifications.

BAUHAUS: UPDATED EDITION

In a fleeting 14-year period between two world wars, Germany’s Bauhaus school of art and design changed the face of modernity. With utopian ideas for the future, the school developed a pioneering fusion of fine art, craftsmanship, and technology, which they applied across media and practices from film to theater, and sculpture to ceramics.

LOS ANGELES: THE MONOCLE TRAVEL GUIDE SERIES

La La Land is a city budding with talent: it’s a haven for artists and architects, top chefs, fresh designers and trendsetting retailers. Plus the upshot of all of that vitamin D is that, whether you’re visiting for business or pleasure, you’re bound to meet some happy people.

Blog

We care about your privacy