Asian

The Japanese Tattoo

Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers

From the Introduction

Wabi-sabi is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.
It is a beauty of things modest and humble.
It is a beauty of things unconventional.

The immediate catalyst for this book was a widely publicized tea event in Japan. The Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi has long been associated with the tea ceremony, and this event promised to be a profound wabi-sabi experience. Hiroshi Teshigahara, the hereditary iemoto (grand master) of the Sogetsu school of flower arranging, had commissioned three of Japan's most famous and fashionable architects to design and build their conceptions of ceremonial tea-drinking environments. Teshigahara in addition would provide a fourth design. After a three-plus-hour train and bus ride from my office in Tokyo, I arrived at the event site, the grounds of an old imperial summer residence. To my dismay I found a celebration of gorgeousness, grandeur, and elegant play, but hardly a trace of wabi-sabi. One slick tea hut, ostensibly made of paper, looked and smelled like a big white plastic umbrella. Adjacent was a structure made of glass, steel, and wood that had all the intimacy of a highrise office building. The one tea house that approached the wabi-sabi qualities I had anticipated, upon closer inspection, was fussed up with gratuitous post- modern appendages. It suddenly dawned on me that wabi-sabi, once the preeminent high-culture Japanese aesthetic and the acknowledged centerpiece of tea, was becoming-had become?-an endangered species.

Admittedly, the beauty of wabi-sabi is not to everyone's liking. But I believe it is in everyone's interest to prevent wabi-sabi from disappearing altogether. Diversity of the cultural ecology is a desirable state of affairs, especially in opposition to the accelerating trend toward the uniform digitalization of all sensory experience, wherein an electronic "reader" stands between experience and observation, and all manifestation is encoded identically.

In Japan, however, unlike Europe and to a lesser extent America, precious little material culture has been saved. So in Japan, saving a universe of beauty from extinction means, at this late date, not merely preserving particul

Russian Textiles: Printed Cloth for the Bazaars of Central Asia

Russian Textiles showcases the gorgeous printed-cotton textiles created and manufactured in Russia and exported to Central Asia from approximately 1860 to 1960. More than 175 spectacular patterns spanning a variety of periods and styles, from Art Nouveau florals to Soviet-era agitprop, are featured. The people in these Central Asian countries—including Uzbeks, Tadjiks, and Turkmen—incorporated the brightly patterned material into their clothing, particularly their robes, and in their household items.

Brief essays by the author and fellow textile experts describe the “social life” of the fabrics and the fascinating history of this merging of Russian, Western, and Central Asian aesthetic styles; Robert Kushner contributes a lively text on how an artist “sees” and is inspired by these designs. Complementing the pattern images are vintage photographs from the turn of the 20th century as well as beautifully detailed reproductions of the robes and other articles that were lined and embellished with these cloths.

This is a must-have book for the inspiration library of every artist; professional fashion, interior, and product designer; crafter; and anyone with a love of extraordinary visual design.

The Japanese Tattoo Design Handbook, Vol. I

Tattooing in Japan goes back to the dawn of the nation's history. The ancient Chinese text Wei Zi of 297 AD relates that all the men of the land of Wa (Japan) wore tattoos on their faces and bodies. What began as talismanic markings used as protection against harm eventually became the decorative tattoos known as horimono. Today, the techniques and designs used in Japanese tattoos are acclaimed worldwide. In this first of two volumes presenting the work of some of Japan's leading horishi, or tattoo artists, The Japanese Tattoo Design Handbook Vol. 1 introduces over 80 on-skin designs from five masters that blend traditional and modern techniques. Fans of body art and tattooists alike will find this both an invaluable sourcebook and a fascinating first-time collection of ink design.

Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures

Almost 30 years ago, a precious trove of art was spirited away from the National Museum of Afghanistan by a small group of "keyholders" —museum guards, curators, and antiquities lovers who risked their lives to save the country’s cultural treasures. Their actions spared these magnificent pieces from the threat of destruction, first by the invading Soviets in 1979 and more recently by the Taliban. Exquisitely crafted in gold and ivory, the artifacts illustrate Afghanistan’s key place at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, at the center of the ancient Silk Road—a rich heritage to be displayed at four major U.S. museums through 2009. Crowning this headline-making exhibition is a famous hoard of Bactrian gold, considered to be one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

To help create the exhibit and book, archaeologist and National Geographic Society Fellow Fredrik T. Hiebert inventoried the artifacts at the request of the Afghan government. Gorgeously photographed and elegantly packaged, the collection shines in this official companion to the much anticipated and widely covered tour.

For the eager audiences who will visit, and for legions of art and history lovers across the United States, Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures provides a beautiful, affordable keepsake, a handsome gift, and a rare opportunity to appreciate this matchless tradition of artistry and the steadfast human spirit that preserved it.

The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs

Tibetan Buddhism has one of the most complex iconographies of any religion. Robert Beer, the artist who brought to life the saints of Tibetan Buddhism in Buddhist Masters of Enchantment, has now brought the myriad symbols of Tibetan Buddhist art to life. Not exactly arranged like an encyclopedia, this book is more like a tour of the categories of Tibetan Buddhist symbols, beginning with Landscape Elements (rocks, clouds, rainbows, etc.); moving on to such areas as Flowers and Trees, Cosmology, and Mudras (hand gestures); and ending with Geometric Borders. Exquisitely detailed line drawings (using fine-pointed traditional brushes) are grouped on full-size plates, each of which the author tells us took between 50 and 200 hours to draw. The eight years that went into this book are revealed not only in the drawings but also in the text that is equally detailed in its descriptions of the religious significance of the symbols as well as their sources and development in Tibetan art. Beer's encyclopedic knowledge has not come from book learning, but from 30 years of doing Tibetan art and learning firsthand from Tibetan masters. After glimpsing just of few of these plates, you'll be calling Beer a master too. --Brian Bruya

For artists, designers, and all with an interest in Buddhist and Tibetan art, this is the first exhaustive reference to the seemingly infinite variety of symbols found throughout Tibetan art in line drawings, paintings, and ritual objects. Hundreds of the author's line drawings depict all the major Tibetan symbols and motifs—landscapes, deities, animals, plants, gurus, mudras (ritual hand gestures), dragons, and other mythic creatures—ranging from complex mythological scenes to small, simple ornaments.

Face Food: The Visual Creativity of Japanese Bento Boxes

All across Japan, parents come up with unique ways to bring attention to their children's lunch boxes. And what better way to make children eat than to turn their midday meals into a cartoon? With Face Food, Christopher D Salyers documents the very real phenomenon of crafting food into visually creative and appealing forms, such as Pikachu, Daraemon and Cindarella, bringing health, heart and imagination to the bento box. How-to guides and articles by designers and chefs accompany photographs, all of which illuminate the dynamic reasons behind this wholly Japanese pursuit.

Hiroshige, 100 Views of Edo

Hiroshige's Edo: Masterful ukiyo-e woodblock prints of Tokyo in the mid-19th century Literally meaning "pictures of the floating world," [b]ukiyo-e refers to the famous Japanese woodblock print genre[/b] that originated in the 17th century and is practically synonymous with the Western world's visual characterization of Japan. Because they could be mass produced, ukiyo-e works were often used as designs for fans, New Year's greeting cards, single prints, and book illustrations, and traditionally they depicted city life, entertainment, beautiful women, kabuki actors, and landscapes. The influence of ukiyo-e in Europe and the USA, often referred to as Japonisme, can be seen in everything from impressionist painting to today's manga and anime illustration. This reprint is made from one of the finest complete original set of woodprints belonging to the Ota Memorial Museum of Art in Tokyo.

The Chinese Brush Painting Bible: Over 200 Motifs with Step-By-Step Illustrated Instructions

*Chinese brush painting appeals to both the watercolor and acrylic painter who wants to try working in a simplistic looser, yet representational style

*Contains the most motifs one can find in the Chinese brush painting style, which continues to be popular

*Features an easy-to-use lay flat binding

Over 200 different motifs in an easy-to-use encased spiral format make this the perfect resource for Chinese brush painting. Each motif is accompanied by an explanation of its symbolic meaning, a color palette and step-by-step instruction that includes the order, direction and type of brushstroke needed to complete the image. Clear graphic icons provide detailed brush instruction on how much pressure to apply and what part (tip, heel or whole) of the brush to use. The reader will find advice on composing and combining images to create perfectly balanced, harmonious paintings and ideas for using and displaying their finished art.

Chinese Brush Painting: A Complete Painting Kit for Beginners

This is the perfect introductory kit for anyone who wants to learn the captivating art of Chinese brush painting. Inside is everything needed to get started, including a full-color project book filled with inspiration and ideas.

The project book begins with information on art tools and materials and then covers the basics, such as drawing techniques, composition, and color mixing. It also includes five complete Chinese brush painting lessons to follow and learn. Each project is accompanied by clear instructions, helpful tips, and step-by-step illustrations, all of which ensure successful results. Beginning artists will discover how easy it is to apply a variety of fundamental techniques, resulting in impressive works of art!

This kit makes an ideal gift because the paints are safe and easy to use, and the book teaches skills that can be applied for a lifetime. Most important, it allows everyone to discover the artist within themselves.

Kit includes:

Step-by-step project book

1 Ink stick

1 Ink stone

1 Brush rest

Two 7" Chinese paintbrushes

One 9" Chinese paintbrush

1 Ceramic water dish

5 Pan watercolor paints

6 Tube watercolor paints

5 Sheets watercolor paper