Noud and Ruby decided to spruce up their living room in 1965 by refurnishing the fireplace and adding a new sofa, a tufted corner piece in a classy shade of beige velveteen; not a right-angled design, but a soft, sensual curve snaking around the corner of the room. Noud and Ruby’s redecorating set the scene for what would become a sincere and erotic collaboration between the couple that spanned almost ten years and documented both fashion and fantasy. But the pictures were never intended to...

This project by Dutch photographer Mariken Wessels (1963) is a multifaceted artistic translation of her fascination with an anonymous woman who posed for Eadweard Muybridge’s camera in 1885. In the 24-image sequence “Arising from the Ground”, the obese woman, who was supposedly named Miss Cox, can be observed as she moves from lying down to a fully upright position. Wessels was inspired by this woman to start making large clay sculptures and photographing obese female models swimming un...

The Japanese art of flower arrangement emerged in the 6th century, with offerings left by devotees in Buddhist temples. Over time, various types of ikebana have developed, each with its own lengthy list of rules and guidelines. Today a new generation is taking on this ancient art form, in both Japan and the West. Inspired by its philosophy and aesthetics, practitioners of modern ikebana are using this complex tradition to create original and often colourful displays. Authors Victoria Gaiger a...