David R. Brower is sometimes credited for inventing the modern coffee table book. While he was serving as executive director of the Sierra Club, he had the idea for a series of books that combined nature photography and writings on nature, with, “a page size big enough to carry a given image’s dynamic. The eye must be required to move about within the boundaries of the image, not encompass it all in one glance.”
Exclusives.co.za counts down the top 10 coffee table books for the new coffee table.
10. Annie Lebowitz
One of the most celebrated photographers of our time presents a selection of her work of the last fifteen years.
9. Information is Beautiful
A visual guide to the way the world really works. Every day, every hour, every minute we are bombarded by information – from television, from newspapers, from the internet, we’re steeped in it, maybe even lost in it.
8. Andrew Zuckerman
Inspired by the idea that one of the greatest gifts one generation can give to another is the wisdom it has gained from experience, award-winning photographer and filmmaker Andrew Zuckerman has captured the voices, physical presence, and written word of iconic over-65-year olds to create profound, honest, and truly revealing portraits.
7. National Geographic: The Photographs
National Geographic: The Photographs presents an amazing collection of award-winning National Geographic magazine photographs, the facts behind them, and the inside stories of the men and women who took them.
6. Lady Gaga X Terry Richardson
The first official book by international superstar Lady Gaga in this book of original, behind-the-scenes photographs, acclaimed photographer Terry Richardson follows superstar Lady Gaga during one year of her life, from Lollapalooza through the final show of her Monster Ball tour.
5. The Sartorialist
Scott Schuman just wanted to take photographs of people on the street who looked great. This book is an anthology of Scott’s favourite shots from around the world.
4. Questions without Answers
This major work presents a remarkable sequence of photo-stories from pioneering photo agency VII, documenting world history as we have experienced it since the end of the Cold War. The 11 extraordinarily talented photographers who make up this agency work at the cutting edge of digital photojournalism, committed to recording social and cultural change as it happens around the world.
3. Awesome South Africa
Whether you are an international tourist visiting our shores or a citizen lucky enough to be living in this great country, Awesome South Africa entertains and tells the reader what makes this country what it is… Awesome
2. Trace
William Kentridge’s art brings together drawing, film animation, sculpture and performance. He also applies his astonishing draftsmanship to the techniques of printmaking, including etching, screenprinting, lithography and linoleum cut.
1. Vitamin Green
Vitamin Green provides an up-to-the-minute look at the single most important topic in contemporary design: sustainability. This new attention to the life of the things we make is changing the way design is practiced on every level and will be at the center of discussions about architecture, landscape architecture, and product design in the twenty-first century. Projects nominated by an international collection of designers, curators, critics and thinkers were selected to create the best possible sourcebook of the most exciting and original green designs at all scales, from eyeglasses to landscapes and from motorcycles to skyscrapers. The result is an inspirational survey of the enormous amount of innovative work being done in this field, as well as a directory of products, ideas and techniques for both designers and consumers. Filled with projects that are built and in production, Vitamin Green provides a lively and inspiring visual definition of the term ‘sustainable design’, showing people what really can be achieved today.
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