Neon Mint - 3 Book Bundle

Ludwig Bemelmans by Quentin Blake and Newell, Laurie Britto - Published: Thames and Hudson Ltd - 02-05-2019 - 112 pages.

Art - Artist Monographs - While almost everybody knows Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline, the fact that the illustrator published over forty other titles remains a well-kept secret. The first title in Thames & Hudson’s brand-new series, this book offers a visually rich insight into the life and work of this important artist and writer.

Ludwig Bemelmans grew up under the Austro-Hungarian empire and emigrated to the United States in his late teens, just escaping the outbreak of the First World War. His illustrations for the Madeline books offer a classic vision of Paris that has created a lasting impression on millions of readers. And every illustrator would love to know how he conveyed all the emotions of a spirited little girl drawn with just a few lines and dots; how did he achieve such clarity in simplicity?

Laurie Britton Newell’s illustrated essay gathers material from Bemelmans’ diverse oeuvre, from novels, autobiographical stories, humorous articles and comic strips to murals and menus for hotels and restaurants. The book makes accessible this mesmerizing material, which is otherwise lost to the public, and connects it to the artist’s intriguing life. An icon of a fascinating era, Bemelmans through his magical work gives us glimpses of a life that embodied both hard work and glamour, in Paris and New York.



Autofocus: The Car in Photography by Marta Weiss - Published: Thames and Hudson Ltd - 24-10-2019 - 192 pages.

Photography - History & Themes

Undeniably one of the most influential innovations of the modern world, the car has revolutionized manufacturing and transformed how we move, forever changing our landscapes, cities, environments and economies. With each revolution, each transformation, have come almost unmatched impacts upon wider culture, changing not only the way we live, but the ways we look at and consider the world around us. The influence of the car upon photography and the work created by photographers since the early 20th century can be clearly traced through the V&A’s photography collection.

Autofocus explores the deep cultural significance and impact of the car on the history of photography, playing a role both as subject matter and as a genuine creative vehicle – the means by which photographers have accomplished many of their great works. Written by Marta Weiss, Senior Curator of Photographs at the V&A, and published to coincide with the opening in November 2019 of the exhibition ‘Cars: Accelerating the Modern World’, Autofocus presents over 100 photographs, supported by commentaries and an introduction of c. 1,500 words, that span from the early years of the automobile to the present day. For both photography and car-loving audiences, Autofocus illustrates the ascendance of the car as a cultural icon, and the ways in which it has shaped the world around and ahead of us.



Kids of Cosplay by Thurstan Redding and Katie Grand - Published: Thames and Hudson Ltd - 23-02-2023 - 144 pages.

Popular Culture - Contemporary Culture - In this bold, surreal photographic celebration of the fantastical beauty of cosplay, 70 cosplayers leave behind their everyday existence and become heroes for a day.

Whether it is becoming a fictional character or presenting the ‘you’ the world sees, the craft of cosplay is everywhere. A powerful expression of individuality and diversity, cosplay is a global phenomenon that allows a large number of diverse individuals to join together in one single chaotic but inclusive community. Cosplay allows anyone to become a hero for a day.

After attending a cosplay convention in 2018, photographer Thurstan Redding became captivated by cosplay as a subject matter and embarked on a three-year photographic project to portray cosplay in a way it had never been seen before. In this bold and surprising volume, he captures the transfixing world of cosplay. Brought to life through the presentation of 70 cosplayers in the most unassuming of locations, this exceptional book highlights how creativity can thrive in the most mundane realities: Spider-Man is illuminated by the open fridge in the kitchen, three Alices wait at a bus stop in a desolate Wonderland, Resistance Pilot plays dead on the gravel driveway of a suburban housing estate. Supplemented by commentary from the cosplayers themselves, together with behind-the-scenes pages from Thurstan’s personal diary, Kids of Cosplay is ‘a celebration of ... fandom and allows a glimpse into the world where people are united by their celebration of an art which transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary’ (The Independent).

A foreword by fashion powerhouse Katie Grand, an essay by writer and performer Tom Rasmussen, who discusses the social and cultural context of cosplay, and an illuminating interview with Redding by noted fashion writer Sara McAlpine complete this compelling volume. Sometimes, all it takes is to scratch the surface of our realities to reveal the fantasy that lies beneath.