Typhoon
Tofu Collective
Situated in the westward path of what is known as Typhoon Alley, the coastlines of Taiwan are frequently plagued by hard-hitting hazards. While devastation has been left in the wake of the storm each time, the island has always managed to readjust and bounce back with vigour as changing winds has become embedded within its memory. Yet, to address a collective consciousness remains contested, unavoidably tied to the disruptions following cultural assimilation throughout history. As the island transitioned towards democratisation and global engagement, art became a way to restructure a cultural genealogy, functioning as a dual-wielded narrative that both sought to adapt to the flood of external influences, as well as define an artistic language that looked towards the essence of what it meant to be Taiwanese.
Emerging from reclusion in demand of comprehensive restructuring upon entering a globalised art circuit, structures to support the new paradigm for contemporary art steadily took shape, while experimental movements pushed the boundaries of their newfound freedom through wildly progressive expressions, that raged against lingering oppression and looked towards a decolonised and queer future. The maintenance of liberty to consistently push societal boundaries has positioned Taiwan as a leading democracy in the region, exemplified in 2019 when it became the first in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. The hybrid identity of Taiwan is its unique quality, but it is the same complexity that also poses a string of challenges for the largely unrecognised nation-state and its meeting with the international art scene. The identity has remained a centripetal force that pulls artistic examination towards it, time and time again, and with each roundabout, the voices muffled by the storm grow louder. In the midst of the eye, a generation of trailblazing artists navigates the art scene that mirrors the dynamics and multifariousness of an island nation in flux, superseding cultural barriers, carving out interstice, and maintaining the continuous progression of identity.
Typhoon is a product of comprehensive research and forged friendships by Tofu Collective – compiled in collaboration with dmp editions and an esteemed board of advisors – airing an eclectic capture of the streams that flow, intersect, and diverge within the many layers of Taiwanese art circles, through diverse portrayals of both promising younger artists and heavyweight practitioners. From inside and outside perspectives, we move through the sheer depth and variety of identities, fluctuating between an abundance of dichotomies, between local and global, natural and artificial, body and mind, past and future. Planned as a double-release dubbed ME–WE, Typhoon is conceptualized as two parts of a whole negotiating between the layers of collective and personal identity in order to uncover some of the complexities and distinct voices of contemporary Taiwan. The ME issue explores artistic endeavors rooted in introspection shaped by personal narratives, whereas the WE issue widens the lens and encourages reflection upon a grander scheme of shared memory, cumulative experience and societal progress.
Volume 1: WE
Featured artists: Sid and Geri, Elug Art Corner, Lea Shu Cheang, Dondon Hounwn, Ping-Yi Chen, Dorairolg, Yu Ning Kuo, Yun-Pei Hsiung, Ya Wen Li, Luo Jr-shin, Kai-en Chen, Jung Woo Yea, Homing Hsieh, Su Hui-Yu, Chia Yu Hsieh, Zito Tseng, Kenneth Lin Ting Yu, Hou I Ting, Jamie Chieh Ming Chun of The Bridgehole Project, Zhang Xu Zhan, Tsai Ming-Jiun, Stephanie H Shih, Lee Tzu Tung
Volume 2: ME
Featured artists: Chen Nienying, Manbo Key, Pin Chun Kuo, Yu Cheng-Ta, Yuen Hsieh, Betty Apple, Su Misu, Wen Gum Gum, Chang Nienwei, Chang Yu Hsuan, Kuang I Ku, Shih Yung Chun, Ciwas Tahos
Specifications -168 + 168 pages. 22×28×4 cm.
Please note: each cover is unique and will be shipped out randomly.
Design Stays
Pauline Egge
Pauline Egge has been travelling all over Europe for more than 14 years, carefully and single-handedly selecting the most unique design places to stay, from a colourful hotel in Ibiza and a yoga-haven in Paris, or a bustling design hotel in the Danish capital and an art-nouveau-style retreat in the Dolomites in Italy, to an elegant resort in the Greek island of Samos.
Specifications - Hardcover. 256 pages. Measurement: 18,5 × 25 cm
Mind Games
Thames & Hudson
Described by Yoko Ono as "ahead of its time," Mind Games is a breakthrough album from John Lennon in which he employs a Plastic Ono Band comprising the cream of the crop of New York session musicians—a fan favorite that remains a cult classic ever since its first release on October 29, 1973. This insightful and beautiful book presents handwritten lyrics, letters, artworks by Lennon and Ono, and previously unseen photography alongside their firsthand commentary about the lyrics, songs, and album artwork, as well as contributions from the musicians, friends, engineers, and key figures involved in the making of this landmark album.
Specifications - Hardcover. 288 pages. Measurement: 25 × 32 cm
How Banksy Saved Art History
Thames & Hudson
Few would dispute that Banksy is the most famous urban artist in the world today. That he is also one of the most perceptive art historians of our age might come as a surprise to many. But the myriad memorable works he has created over the past thirty years constitute an audacious commentary on the history of image-making – a captivating critique waiting to be pieced together.
Specifications - Hardcover. 139 pages. Measurement: 24.6cm x 18.6cm.
Earth, Sky & Water
Mette Lange
In a world of starchitects competing to design ever taller glass and steel megaliths, there are still some architects designing with natural materials at a human scale, for comfort, longevity and visual delight. Mette Lange is one such architect. She creates beautiful, unpretentious homes in spectacular scenery that offer visual inspiration for homebuilders and dreamers alike.
Specifications - Hardcover. 208 pages. Measurement: 26cm x 20cm.
Surrealism
Gérard Lo Monaco
In this magical book, pop-up engineer Gérard Lo Monaco brings to life eight works of art by leading surrealists: Salvador Dalí, Victor Brauner, Jean Arp, Man Ray, Joseph Cornell, Dora Maar, René Magritte and André Breton. Short texts introduce each work and its historical context, while hand-painted illustrations bring a new dimension to this revolutionary period in modern art.
Specifications - Papercover. 20 pages. Measurement: 19.5 cm x 14.5 cm.
Craxton's Cats
Andrew Lambirth
A superbly illustrated account of one of the major figures of modern British painting's passion for cats, written with personal knowledge of the artist. By concentrating on a single subject very dear to John Craxton's heart—cats—this volume offers an accessible introduction to this popular artist, who has been championed by David Attenborough and Andrew Marr, among many others. Craxton's significance as an early artist companion of Lucian Freud, his time in Greece, and his collaborations with Patrick Leigh Fermor have generated growing interest in his art.
Specifications - Hardcover. 144 pages. 17,5 cm x 20 cm.
Sense of Style
Beta Plus Publishing
18 new portraits of the homes and workplaces of artists, designers, architects and other creatives from all over the world.
Specifications - Softcover. 224 pages. Measurement: 220mm x 297 mm.
Lucie Rie
Kettle Yard Gallery
Lucie Rie: The Adventure of Pottery is a captivating book penned by the talented Andrew Nairne. This engrossing piece of literature delves into the world of pottery, with Lucie Rie at the heart of the adventure.
Specifications - Papercover. 240 pages. Measurement: 24cm x 32cm.
Modern Artisan
Flammarion
Every culture is rooted in an artisanal tradition that combines locally sourced materials, honoured savoir faire, and a desire to adorn and embellish objects from daily life. Here, thirty-eight women and men—from the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, India, Italy, France, Mali, Mexico, and beyond—open their workshops to share their heritage, skill, and unique vision.
Specifications - Hardcover. 360 pages. Measurement: 248mm x 319mm
EAT NYC
Rizzoli
New York City is a place of never-ending discovery and unapologetic authenticity, a bustling metropolis and a mosaic of character-filled communities. One of the best ways to experience any city is through its food, and this book shares some of NYC’s most iconic dishes enjoyed morning, noon, and night.
With 55 quintessential recipes from across the five boroughs, as well as stories from some of the city’s best-loved eateries, including Levain Bakery, Tompkins Square Bagels, and Joe’s Pizza, this book recreates the dishes treasured by locals and visitors alike. Wherever you are in the world, EAT NYC.
Specifications - Hardcover. 256 pages. Measurement: 24cm x 32cm.
Modern Houses In Black
The Images Publishing Group
A black home commands attention. Black adds drama, sophistication, and edginess to residential architecture. In Modern Houses in Black, Susan Redman explores the trend in black home design through a curated collection of twenty-eight residential properties across the world. Illustrated with striking images of houses sited in either urban settings or remote rural landscapes, the book features these bespoke residences confidently displaying their dark exteriors, making a bold statement wherever they are located.
Specifications - Softcover. 280 pages. Measurement: 23 cm x 26,5cm.