T’is the season of festivals and delights, so first up we’d like to remind you about our annual Christmas Book Sale that we’re holding here at HOME on Monday 3 Dec, 12:00 – 18:00 in the main gallery. That’s THIS Monday! Art books of all shapes and sizes will be available to purchase at some very special prices (a tenner, a fiver or just 2 quid) so it’s well worth coming along. See this link for more information.
And then there is the little matter of HOME’s new theatre season announcement that we would also like to bring to your attention. Did you know that we are part of an amazing art centre, HOME? Well the February – October 2019 theatre events have now been announced, including lots of new, exciting collaborations and showcases. Read more here to get full details and to book tickets. They’d make excellent festive presents. #WeArePartofHOME
Finally, there’s still time for you to pick out some bookish gifts from our list and receive them in time for the Christmas posting order deadlines. As is our tradition, here are some of our staff-recommended pressie ideas, in case you are in need of any gifting inspiration:
How about this book celebrating the 25th anniversary of Vienna’s Life Ball – which tries to eliminate the taboos surrounding AIDS and HIV by throwing a massive festival each year. An Homage to the Sound of Music: Life Ball Style Bible is exuberant and decadent, visual and celebratory, all rolled into one book. Delicious!
More an artist’s book than an exhibition catalogue, or more like an artwork that’s in book format, Marie Jacotey: Dear Love Who Should Have Been Forever Mine was published in 2015 to go alongside Jacotey’s show at Hannah Barry Gallery. Narrative is incredibly important in her work, where her storytelling actually places us in the role of voyeur. A popular seller all this year, especially at book fairs, this one makes a great present for those that you love, or don’t.
Also hot for this season is the very popular PSYOP: An Anthology by Metahaven offering an insight into this highly acclaimed artist collective’s sprawling artistic work. If you want to know how their work is positioned in today’s socio-political world then this one is for you.
Next is a #classic title on our list. Ryan Gander: The Boy Who Always Looked Up is all about the Hungarian architect Goldfinger who designed London Kensington’s Brutalist-style Trellick Tower. He also designed his own family home – 2 Willow Road – and to this day it holds his objects and possessions and furniture inside. Using both these as inspiration, Gander has created an audio visual work referencing the architects connection to the Trellick tower and this book is the result. This is the second edition of this lovely title, and includes fabulous illustrations.
Or what about something very decorative and home-practical? On Display: 50 Posters Designed for the Hayward Gallery is what it says on the tin. The posters are a great way of adorning your home, in a very tasteful, art-historical and artistic manner. They are easily removed from the book to be framed (or not) and put on the wall.
If you are loving your vinyl records then this book is for you and yours: Arne Reimer: Long Play . Photographer Arne Reimer has visited and photographed records shops from around the world for the last decade and this is the intense and highly affectionate (towards record shops) result.
Rhythm and Colour is Richard Emerson’s beautiful and extensively researched book on three avant-garde dancers (Hélène Vanel, Loïs Hutton, Margaret Morris) and is an eye opening look into the lives and loves of these highly influential women who have nearly been forgotten over time. They were all very much a part of their generation’s art scenes, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Picasso and Dali.
Then there’s this one for all Opera lovers out there, Birgit Nilsson 100: An Homage, a celebration of the life of Wagner specialist and soprano Birgit Nilsson. Had she still lived she would have celebrated her 100th birthday this year. A beautiful book to behold.
Isaac Julien: Looking for Langston (Signed Edition) focuses on the artist’s lyrical exploration in his film of the private life of social activist and writer Langston Hughes plus other black writers of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. Being a signed, limited edition makes this one highly collectible and it is also lavishly illustrated.
If you have an Andy Warhol fan in your midst then this book from Timothy Taylor gallery is one to go for. Andy Warhol: 1948-1960 explores and gives an unprecedented overview of his work and how it developed between the years of 1948-1960. We seem to be selling loads of this one right now, probably due to the Warhol/Paolozzi exhibition over at the National Galleries of Scotland. At just £10 it’s a great price too.
Ever wondered about the power of the printed poster? Well, for some, Punk was defined by this version of print as it was all but banned from being featured on all mainstream tv and radio. Loud Flash is the book of the unique exhibition on posters of the Punk era held at Haunch of Venison in London 2010. Maybe it will appeal to all those of a certain generation?
The next one is a great stocking filler and not really a book at all, but we still love it! Design Finland Playing Cards are just that – a pack of playing cards. But they are playing cards with a difference because each suit covers one section of Finnish Design from the 1900s to 2000s. Spades are ceramics and glassware, Hearts are furniture and lamps, Diamonds are textiles, clothes and jewellery and Clubs are equipment and tools. Educate yourselves (or others) as you play!
A Volume of Fanatics (Glasgow) is a book that celebrates words and language and takes the form of a thesaurus. It’s a project that came out of a collaboration between artist Richard Wentworth and Victoria Miguel. What are your favourite words to read and use?
The reprinted edition of this book by the filmmaker Robby Müller: Polaroid is now available (again) and is selling fast! Müller often took polaroids in the moments ‘in between’ whilst on film sets. This beautiful, small format book of those shots takes a 2 volume format – Exterior and Interior and includes an essay by the Müller himself.
Is Britain really that great? This one, Is Britain Great? 3, from The Caravan Gallery’s two roving photographers Jan Williams and Chris Teasdale displays the tragic-comic shots of places and situations that Britain might rather not think about. It might make you laugh, or cry.
Covering the subversive cultural forces of Russia, Subkultura is another great read that we’d like to highlight here. Written by Russian journalist and broadcaster Artemy Troitsky it shows an alternative history and a personal take on the emergence of Russia’s modern society. We think this is an interesting and informative book originally published alongside a HOME exhibition in 2017/18.
This list is not exhaustive as it just includes some of our faves. If you want more pressie ideas then why not browse our online bookstore? There are over 4000 products to explore and ordering online is simple and easy. Whilst you’re at it, don’t forget to sign up to our mailing list so that you don’t miss out on receiving information about our special promotions. You can also follow us on Facebook, or via twitter @CornerhousePubs.
Wishing everyone a wonderful festive season, from all of us here at Cornerhouse Publications.
Photo caption:© the artist. Taken from the book by Scott McFarland: Snow, Shacks, Streets, Shrubs (Walther Koenig, 2014)