The Best Art & Design Books of 2012
This year we’ve seen a bumper crop of books, music and film and over the next few weeks we’ll be presenting a series of our favourites, voted for and selected by Readings’ staff.
Here, Margaret Snowdon, shares her favourite art and design books of 2012.
This landmark book breaks new ground by exploring the art of Oceania in its full historical context and providing an up-to-date understanding of the field. It looks at the wide range of objects created over several millennia, spanning the settlement of Oceania in the prehistoric period to the present day, with essays by leading scholars.
This release looks at the evolution of the nude in art – from a distanced and idealised view to a warts and all approach – as exhibited in the brilliant works of modern painters such as Lucian Freud and Jenny Saville.
Questions Without Answers: The World in Pictures by the Photographers of VII
This major work presents a remarkable sequence of photo-stories from pioneering agency VII. Eleven extraordinarily talented photographers document world history from the end of the Cold War to the present day, working at the cutting edge of digital photojournalism.
The Where, the Why, and the How: 75 Artists Illustrate Wondrous Mysteries of Science
An excellent compendium of art and science. Seventy-five graphic artists illustrate the big questions of life, from how we got here to where we are going – inspired by essays by our most gifted scientists.
Featuring the work of 85 of the great fashion photographers past and present, and drawn from the Conde Nast archives in New York, Paris and Milan, this book is elegant, glamorous, and entirely inspiring. Revamp your wardrobe with vintage pizazz.
Feminine Futures: Valentine de Saint-Point: Performance, Dance, War, Politics and Eroticism
An extraordinary collection of images and documents on early twentieth-century feminine performative contributions to the avant-garde. This exhibition catalogue features original material on Valentine de Saint-Point, Marinetti, Futurism, les Ballets Russes, German and American expressionism, and much more.
The definitive book on contemporary sustainable design and architecture from around the world. Shows that intelligent and forward-thinking design is stylish and cutting edge, while also crossing cultural boundaries.
Over 140 projects from the brilliant British designer – from chairs to bridges, buildings and fibre optics. Details the briefs and the processes, making this a great choice for the budding architect, designer or interested general reader.
Agnes Martin: Paintings, Writings, Remembrances
The most extensive retrospective ever published on this visionary painter, whose transcendent, minimal works of expressionist purity were ahead of their time.
A brilliant overview of contemporary art practices from around the world, where the focus is on recycling materials, working with the undervalued, the unnoticed or unusual.
