The Van Gogh Museum invited the celebrated Chinese artist Zeng Fanzhi to present recent work inspired by Vincent van Gogh. Although the two artists differ greatly in historical period and place of origin, their art is very similar in substance. This similarity is apparent in the themes that Van Gogh and Zeng both perpetually explore, such as style, identity and personality, and the question of self-control and the outside world's degree of control over the individual. It is evident too in the...

Many Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan sell small wooden votive tablets (ema) which are meant to be left on a rack at the sanctuary. The reverse of these tablets offers space to send a self-written wish or personal thank you message to the enshrined deity or buddha. Their front usually has a pre-printed or hand-painted design that is indicative of the intended purpose.

In this book hundreds of contemporary ema designs for health-related purposes are reproduced and placed into thei...

"Masked Warriors" provides new insights into the approach of form, function and meaning of the Japanese armor masks. The diversity and the connections with existing mask disciplines, especially nō masks, shows us that the Japanese armor masks form an integral part within the Japanese mask culture. This study also shows that nō-masks have been of much greater influence on the development of armour masks (menpō) than previously understood.

It is comprehensive display of artefacts illustratin...

The first publication to focus on what working from life means todayArtists include Jeremy Deller, Antony Gormley, Chantal Joffe, Jonathan Yeo, Yinka Shonibare and Gillian Wearing From Michelangelo's marbles to photographer's self-portraits, artists have always been fascinated by their creative encounters with the human body. Often a key part of their early training, drawing and sculpting from life go on to inform their later work in unexpected and inspiring ways.This illuminating publication...

Published in conjunction with an exhibition at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, this catalogue is about the creative power of change that is needed to face global issues and threats, now more than ever. Based on three key topics that are increasingly urgent in today's societies - scarcity, conflict, and unanimity - the presentation aims to inspire people to look at these social issues through the eyes of creative thinkers. Projects by some 50 national and international designers an...