Vivays Publishing

Crazy Art will be a revelation to anyone who thinks that art is more or less limited to painting, sculpture and photography. The title features the work of more than sixty contemporary artists drawn from all over the world, demonstrating that there a re absolutely no boundaries to expressing the most inventive and exciting ideas through a vast range of different media and materials. Five chapters pitch well-known artists - such as Carl Warner with his bizarre "foodscapes", or Nathan Swaya, creat or of Brick Art, and Larry Moss with his famous balloon sculptures - alongside young practitioners like Pei-Sang Ng, an artist whose stunning matchstick designs burn brightly but all too briefly. Each artist and subject receives a short introduction , whilst illustrations and detailed descriptions provide insight into their most important, individual and creative works of art. From Food Art to Body Art, Junk Art to Street and even Dust Art, Crazy Art brings their original, radical and provocativ e ideas to life. Website links guide the reader toward more information on the artists, their work and the galleries or museums that give them patronage.

Crazy Design showcases the work of our leading product designers, picking out the most inventive, contemporary and fun work around and presenting it in an accessible, engrossing guide. Well-known designers, such as Marcel Wanders with his delicate, beautiful Crochet Chair, are included amidst exciting new figures; designers like Joao Sabino, creator of the Keyboard Bag, which breathes ingenious new life into the computer keyboard. Each product is illustrated alongside a description that brings insight into the work, the creator and the story behind its design. From the functional to the inventive, the recycled to the dreamlike, Crazy Design features objects for all tastes and surrounds, whether ordinary or outlandish. Website listings gui de you toward more information on the designers and their products. The top hat light, the boat bathtub, the mutant vase, the knee mug... you'll wonder how you ever lived without this stuff!

It gets harder every year. Finding something new and unusual for that close friend's birthday, or searching out an original present for a dear old uncle (surely, not socks again). You want to give them something different; you want to surprise them w ith something individual and interesting. Crazy Gifts could be your salvation. It's an inspirational sourcebook for present givers, designers and style-conscious consumers, packed with fantastic gift ideas, from the practical (think self-heating bab y's bottle) to the cutely quirky (pop art toaster anyone?) and downright clever (how about a swimming mask that shoots video?). Sections on kitchen gifts, well-being, games, gadgets, home, techno and fashion contribute to an indispensable compendium of new 'stuff'. Some gifts, like the snake-shaped LED bench, stand out for their design qualities, whilst others, such as the massaging head spa that relieves the symptoms of migraine, have proven health benefits. Website listings guide you through to the right stockists for each of the almost 200 featured items, whilst the Crazy Gifts' multiple indexing system allows you to search for a gift by genre, recipient, occasion or price.

How many of us have brought our cameras with us on holiday in hopes of creating a memorable visual record of our trip and been disappointed in the results? This book, written by a leading travel photographer and journalist contains a stunning array o f images from all over the world. Written from the author's vast experience of photographing subjects, he provides invaluable and practical advice on how to get the best shots. The author's lively writing style and his gorgeous and evocative photogra phs of people and places make the reader feel that they have been travelling with him. This book is ideal for the person who travels for work or pleasure and wants advice and inspiration for creating and improving their own photography.

The Russian Ornament Sourcebook is a wonderful compendium of decorative details derived from ancient Russian manuscripts from the tenth to the sixteenth Century. The book starts with a brief history of Russian ornament by Maria Orlova, a member of th e Russian Academy of Arts. The main body is divided in two parts; the first half containing hundreds of decorative motifs in full colour arranged in chronological groups. The second half provides templates, which can be used for tracing or scanning d etails of the decorative elements. The Russian Ornament Sourcebook is a valuable resource for art historians, graphic designers, calligraphy and typography lovers, manuscripts scholars and fans of Russian cultural heritage.

Photographing the Microworld' offers an extraordinary insight into the microworld through the lens of a camera, which has magnified the familiar and the unfamiliar living things that surround us. Images of insects going about their daily life; close- ups of spiders, both beautiful and fearsome; delicate butterflies with wing patterns that rival the most elegant fabrics; fish whose scales create intricate designs...these are just a few of the living creatures featured in this book. Many of these i mages include rare exotic species and creatures that have scarcely been captured by the camera's lens before. The book's images are accompanied by professional photographers' recommendation on equipment and techniques necessary to obtain the types of photographic effects shown. This book will be of interest to photographers, naturalists, environmentalists, biologists and those who are simply fascinated by the world around us.

This beautifully illustrated book shows examples of Russian dress and accessories from the 15th to the early 20th century. Derived from the collection of the State Historical Museum and covering both dress worn in the countryside and in the city, thi s book is a fabulous feast of splendid patterns and fine detail. From exuberantly colourful and embellished dresses to elegantly sumptuous brocades and silks, the garments and accessories included in this book are an inspiration.

Drawing on the immense popularity and the timeless appeal of Celtic ornaments, author David Balade, an acclaimed artist who created many drawings and paintings in the Celtic style, has chosen the most interesting, diverse and typical patterns and mot ifs of Celtic art for this beautifully designed practical and historical sourcebook. Starting with an illustrated introduction to the Celts and the development of Celtic art, all designs showcased in Designing Celtic Ornament are placed in their hist orical context. The chapters which follow examine the major patterns of Celtic ornamentation: spirals, interlacements, labyrinths and beasts. Each chapter opens with a general introduction to the elements of the pattern and is followed by the many mo difications it underwent during the ages. A short introduction to each variation with illustrated examples from magnificent manuscripts such as the Book of Kells, The Book of Durrow or the Lindisfarne Gospels explains the specific characteristics of a certain pattern, how it was created and what it symbolised. More than 200 of the depicted designs can be reproduced and applied to contemporary work. The final chapter gives easy to follow step-by-step instructions for replicating twenty of the mos t beautiful motifs to be found in this exquisite collection of Celtic ornaments. Designing Celtic Ornament not only explores the history and symbolism of the most popular Celtic motifs, but also provides a fantastic and ideal resource for artists, de signers and crafters working in all media.

Interiors: Inspiration & Materials is the perfect book for anyone who wants to transform their house into a personal place reflecting their way of life. But choosing the best and most suitable materials for creating your ideal interior space is not a lways easy; there are an infinite number of possibilities for finding the ultimate solution for your personal needs. This comprehensive guide helps you navigate through the jungle of materials and their application. Interiors provides information on which materials can be used for floors, walls, ceilings, in kitchens or bathrooms with an objective and detailed introduction explaining the specific characteristics of each material. In addition to the technical information, the advantages and disad vantages of each material are described so that the reader gets a deep understanding of how the choice of concrete, natural stone or bamboo for a floor or the usage of wood, textile, ceramics or gesso on a wall or ceiling will transform the space. Mo re than 1,500 illustrations demonstrate not only how "warm" and "cold" materials can be harmoniously juxtaposed, but also how a successful synthesis of function and aesthetics can be achieved.

Why do some interiors feel harmonious, places where you feel comfortable to relax or to entertain? You don't necessarily need to hire a professional interior designer to create the kind of place where you want to live. This book provides the basic ru les and principles of interior design, the skeleton on which to build a successful scheme and an enjoyable living space. The 10 areas outlined here give direction and inspiration to those starting a scheme from scratch or reinventing an existing spac e. This book is for students of interior design, decorators, anyone looking for guidance in decorating and furnishing their home.

We are proud to offer this important book on icons dating from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. These sixty icons from the Kolomenskoye State Museum are presented with full descriptions of their origins and symbolic meanings written by a leading specialist in Old Russian art. This lesser-known collection shows the evolution and development of Russian iconography through its themes, styles and details - for example, historical figures such as Peter the Great featured in the battlefield on one of the intercession icons. These images are at once powerful and moving, engaging the observer in the story depicted in the painting or drawing the eye to a face that seems to look directly out at the viewer. This book provides a fascinating insight into the world of the mysterious and beautiful icons. This book is a valuable resource for art historians, scholars of religious practice, and collectors of icons.

There are few topics more awe-inspiring than cosmology. What is the universe? How does it work? Where did it come from? These fundamental questions intrigue adults and children alike. This accessible guide brings alive humanity s attempts to explain the existence of everything and explores the latest and best theories on how the universe came into being. With approachable text, assuming no previous knowledge, and uniquely in such an illustrated book, the reader is taken beyond the certainties to explore the strange concepts that fill modern cosmology. Is the universe a hologram? Is everything we know part of a membrane floating in multidimensional space? Could we be living in a computer simulation? It sounds like science fiction, but these are among the ideas cosmologists seriously propose for the nature of reality. This book is for students, amateur astronomers, and anyone who has looked up at the sky and wondered about our place in the universe.

In art as in life, things aren't always what they appear to be. With the invention of photography almost two centuries ago, the subjective eye of the artist had a new rival, and one that ostensibly depicted the world as it actually was. Today we know better, particularly now, in the age of digital imaging when photographs can be adulterated so easily. 'Crazy Photography' presents the work of more than fifty contemporary photographers from all over the world demonstrating how the way we capture and look at images has been revolutionised in recent years. In four chapters, well-known photographers such as Liu Bolin, Ian Crawford and Pep Ventosa alongside young practitioners like Ari Mahardika and Jan Oliehoek take us on a stunning tour through a visual gallery that reflects our dreams and fears and gives us new, original insights into our consciousness as well as our environment. By skilfully manipulating and playing with images, the artists challenge our perceptions and beliefs, inducing in us an altered view of what seems to be familiar or ordinary.

The popularity of second hand and vintage shopping reflects our interest in exploring more eco-friendly consuming and also satisfies our ongoing fascination with objects that have a history. Add to that the fascinating secondhand culture of a city and you have a way of delving into both the past and present life around you while you shop for objects that you won't find in your average chain store or shopping mall. 'Secondhand & Vintage London' gives you an insider's guide to the best shops and markets for almost anything you would want to buy. The first part of the book is organised into sections by types of objects. All the key information you need to know (address, contact details, website and opening hours) is provided along with a brief description of the shop or stall. The second part of the book is organized by area so if you are in a particular neighbourhood you can visit any of the shops- colour coded to the types of objects they sell. Each district has a useful map and a QR so that you can connect to interactive maps specially created for this book. There is a special section of the book devoted to London's hidden gems. In addition, the author has interviewed the owners of particularly interesting shops and asked local residents for recommendations of where to grab a coffee or a bite to eat. Whether you live in London or you are visiting the city, this guide provides everything you need to find those special places. It is not about buying cheaply, but about affording more!

The popularity of secondhand and vintage shopping reflects our interest in exploring more eco-friendly consuming and also satisfies our ongoing fascination with objects that have a history. Add to that the fascinating secondhand culture of a city and you have a way of delving into both the past and present life around you while you shop for objects that you won't find in your average chain store or shopping mall. 'Secondhand & Vintage Berlin' gives you an insider's guide to the best shops and markets for almost anything you would want to buy. The first part of the book is organised into sections by types of objects. All the key information you need to know (address, contact details, website and opening hours) is provided along with a brief description of the shop or stall. The second part of the book is organised by area so if you are in a particular neighbourhood you can visit any of the shops, colour coded to the types of objects they sell. Each district has a useful map and a QR so that you can connect to interactive maps specially created for this book. There is a special section of the book devoted to Berlin's hidden gems including places that reflect its past as a divided city. In addition, the author has interviewed the owners of particularly interesting shops and asked local residents for recommendations on where to grab a coffee or a bite to eat. Whether you live in Berlin or you are visiting the city, this guide provides everything you need to find those special places. It is not about buying cheaply, but about affording more!

Wearable Vintage Fashion' presents desirable, affordable and accessible vintage clothing and accessories in a new and fun format. Covering the looks of the twentieth century from the 20s to the 80s, this insiders' guide will feature the clothing, accessories and styling to recreate the looks of each decade. By presenting timeless, classic vintage pieces, the items will always be stylish regardless of the era they came from or the fashion trend of the moment. The book will, therefore, serve as a visual reference guide to collecting as well as wearing classic vintage clothing. Vintage dressing is very much a current fashion trend with lots of people shopping for affordable vintage clothing and trying to recreate vintage looks by mixing new and old. The authors show the reader how to put the clothing and accessories together to create that period look whether for daywear or eveningwear. In addition to interviews with collectors and the story behind their collections, the authors look at vintage street fashion from around the world: showing members of the public combining vintage with their everyday fashion.