The best coffee table books are fascinating literary creations — part objet d’art, part photographic ode, part textual reflection — that give insight to the interests of the owners.
Here are our current favourites. Check them out in our waiting area on your next visit.
TIM WALKER: WONDERFUL THINGS
Responsible for some of fashion’s most magical, whimsical and exquisite imagery, British photographer Tim Walker is one of the most creative photographers working today. Walker’s highly produced sets are fantastical environments, often highly allegorical. Walker often plays with proportion, casting his models as giants in a shrunken world, or the reverse.
The book Wonderful Things was published alongside Walker's exhibition at the V&A. This exhibition explored the creative process of one of the world's most inventive photographers, through his pictures, films, photographic sets, and special installations – including ten new series of photographs influenced by the V&A's collections.
WANDERLUST: HIKING ON LEGEGDARY TRAILS
The Narrows Top Down Route, the spectacular El Caminito del Rey in Spain, the fabled Kumano Kodo pilgrimage in Japan, or a mythical hiking path in the land of the giants in Norway – Wanderlust explores legendary hiking trails in enchanting corners of the world and over a variety of terrain: thin ice and desert sands; coastal tracks and forest pathways.
Spectacular photography illustrates journeys to sharp summits, astonishing vistas, and phenomenal locales. With maps featuring noteworthy locations alongside background information and practical tips by Cam Honan, an expert who has hiked many of the trails himself, Wanderlust will suit both intrepid beginners and seasoned trekkers.
From modern-day transcendentalists or those who simply desire a casual break from concrete scenery, Wanderlust allows readers to live vicariously through vivid portraits or use the trips as impetus for their own hiking journey. Following faded footsteps of migrating animals or paths of ancient trade routes, the trails featured in Wanderlust offer both outdoor exploration and enjoyment.
THE ATLAS OF BEAUTY
For the past 9 years photographer Mihaela Noroc has been traveling the world, photographing women and listening to their stories. Her goal is to show that beauty is much more than what we usually see in the media.
Real beauty has no bounds and you’ll find it anywhere, from villages in Afghanistan to big avenues in New York City, from isolated communities in the Amazon to crowded crossings in Tokyo.
Real beauty is not about how we look, but about all the qualities that make us good human beings. In a more and more divided world, The Atlas of Beauty aims to show a different perspective, promoting hope and love.
Comments