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Art & Culture

Culture and art is many things and at Tales you find a wide selection of art and culture books. If you enjoy a trip to the museum or an evening at the theatre this is the place for you. If you are more into architecture or a well written song, fear not you also find books about that. Lastly design and fashion is also part of our art and culture selection, so what are you waiting for? Set your inner creativity free and get inspired by some of the world’s best artists, musicians, designers or architects.
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  • Save 30%
     
    £41.99

    Since Osaka World Expo '70 brought contemporary forms center stage, Japan has been a key player in global architecture. Presenting the latest in Japanese building, this book reveals how the likes of Tadao Ando, SANAA, Shigeru Ban, Kengo Kuma, and Junya Ishigami are relinking past, present, and future-building greener and smarter than ever before.

  • Save 21%
    - The Man Behind the Guitar
    by Julian Vignoles
    £13.49

    Biography of the legendary guitarist Rory Gallagher.

  • Save 10%
    - Raising the Kanneh-Masons
    by Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
    £8.99

    The most talented musical family in the world. For the first time, mother Kadie Kanneh-Mason shares her unique story.

  • - Stress Relieving Designs Animals, Mandalas, Flowers, Paisley Patterns And So Much More!
    by Savanna Magic
    £12.49

  • Save 10%
    by Claudia Winkleman
    £8.99

    Funny, moving and truthful ... Quite

  • - Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV, and Digital Media
    by Bruce Block
    £32.99 - 119.49

  • Save 27%
    by Tamara Lackey
    £23.99

  • Save 18%
    - The Art and Times of Tamara De Lempicka
    by Baroness Kizette de Lempicka-Foxhall & Charles Phillips
    £16.49

    This biography of Tamara de Lempicka is written by her daughter and illustrated with personal photographs and the artists own paintings.

  • Save 20%
    - Master the Fundamental Concepts of Mixed Media Art
    by Jennifer McCully, Isaac Anderson, Suzette Rosenthal, et al.
    £11.99

  • Save 20%
    - The complete guide to painting landscapes
    by Richard S. Taylor
    £11.99

    This book is the perfect companion for the watercolour landscape painter. Packed full of detailed annotations and step-by-step demonstrations, Richard Taylor guides you through each element of landscape painting.

  • Save 20%
    - From the Ancient World to the Late Twentieth Century
    by John Peacock
    £11.99

    Covering Western costume from Ancient Egypt to contemporary haute couture, this is a companion volume to Peacock's "Fashion Sourcebooks". The range of drawings reveals not only national characteristics but also social divisions, and provide a detailed reference for students and professionals alike.

  • Save 20%
    - The Rise of Elvis Presley
    by Peter Guralnick
    £11.99

    The definitive biography of Elvis and an excellent slice of social history.

  • Save 20%
    - A Life Sacred and Profane
    by Andrew Graham Dixon
    £11.99

    Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio lived the darkest and most dangerous life of any of the great painters. The worlds of Milan, Rome and Naples through which Caravaggio moved and which Andrew Graham-Dixon describes brilliantly in this book, are those of cardinals and whores, prayer and violence. On the streets surrounding the churches and palaces, brawls and swordfights were regular occurrences. In the course of this desperate life Caravaggio created the most dramatic paintings of his age, using ordinary men and women - often prostitutes and the very poor - to model for his depictions of classic religious scenes. Andrew Graham-Dixon's exceptionally illuminating readings of Caravaggio'spictures, which are the heart of the book, show very clearly how he created their drama, immediacy and humanity, and how completely he departed from the conventions of his time.

  • Save 11%
    by Leon Alberti
    £7.99

    Artist, architect, poet and philosopher, Leon Battista Alberti revolutionized the history of art with his theories of perspective in On Painting (1435). Inspired by the order and beauty inherent in nature, his groundbreaking work sets out the principles of distance, dimension and proportion; instructs the painter on how to use the rules of composition, representation, light and colour to create work that is graceful and pleasing to the eye; and stipulates the moral and artistic pre-requisites of the successful painter. On Painting had an immediate and profound influence on Italian Renaissance artists including Ghiberti, Fra Angelico and Veneziano and on later figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, and remains a compelling theory of art.

  • Save 23%
    - From Xero to #1: Becoming Linkin Park
    by Jeff Blue
    £15.49

    The dramatic story of the unlikely partnership that led to Hybrid Theory, the biggest-selling debut album of the 21st Century.

  • Save 24%
    - 800 facial expressions from joy to terror, anger, surprise, sadness and more
    by Studio Hard Deluxe
    £18.99

    Big facial expressions are essential to anime and manga. They can be much more eloquent than printed words for getting an emotional response out of viewers. However, faces can be challenging. With this book, improve your anime-drawing skills with instruction for facial features and expressions for a wide variety of ages, character types, hair styles and activities. With 800 different facial expressions, you'll be able to draw your character in any emotional situation or with any reaction.

  • Save 27%
    - An Architectural Travel Guide
    by Stefi Orazi
    £21.99

    This sleek and insightful guide showcases modernist buildings from all over the world that are open to visit or even stay at.

  • Save 15%
    by Jason Fry
    £10.99

    Meet more than 350 incredible clones and droids from Star Wars: The Clone Wars. What is Clone Force 99? Who inducted Ahsoka Tano into the Jedi Order? Where does General Grievous keep a secret lair? Why does Captain Rex mutiny against his Jedi General on Umbara? Have to know the answers to these questions? Look no further than Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Character Encyclopedia - Join the Battle! Written by Star Wars expert Jason Fry, this illustrated encyclopedia features more than 350 incredible characters and teams, including Anakin Skywalker, Maul, Bo-Katan Kryze, and Clone Force 99. Perfect for fans of all ages, Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Character Encyclopedia - Join the Battle! will enthrall readers for hours on end. & 2020 Lucasfilm Ltd.

  • Save 10%
    by Linda Nochlin
    £8.99

    The 50th anniversary edition of the first major work of feminist art history, published together with the author's reflections three decades on.

  • Save 19%
    by Neil Landau
    £12.99

    An illustrated, accessible introduction to filmmaking from an award-winning Hollywood producer, screenwriter, film school professor, and script consultant to major movie studiosAnyone with a cellphone can shoot video, but creating a memorable feature-length film requires knowledge and mastery of a wide range of skills, including screenwriting, storytelling, directing, visual composition, and production logistics. This book points the aspiring filmmaker down this complex learning path with such critical lessons as:• how to structure a story and pitch it to a studio• ways to reveal a story’s unseen aspects, such as backstory and character psychology• the difference between plot, story, and theme• why some films drag in Act 2, and what to do about it• how to visually compose a frame to best tell a story• how to manage finances, schedules, and the practical demands of productionWritten by an award-winning producer, screenwriter, film school professor, and script consultant to major movie studios, 101 Things I Learned® in Film School is an indispensable resource for students, screenwriters, filmmakers, animators, and anyone else interested in the moviemaking profession.

  • Save 23%
    - Adebanji Alade's Sketches of City Life
    by Adebanji Alade
    £15.49

    Showcasing one of Adebanji Alade's inspirational sketchbooks in its entirety, and with a fascinating introduction to the way he works, this unique visual record of everyday city life also offers a compelling insight into the creative process of a modern urban sketcher.

  • Save 19%
    - Learn, Practice, Master - a Hands on Journey Through the Color Wheel
    by Katie Fowler
    £12.99

    By the author of Foolproof Color Wheel Set, Katie Fowler shares how to plan and practise colour theory. Guided by her expert tips, your creative juices will flow as you develop a comprehensive understanding of colour theory and colour relationships by exploring hues, transparency, saturation, and more. So, go ahead, get colouring!

  • Save 11%
    - The Story of the World's Longest Treasure Hunt
    by Randall Sullivan
    £12.49

    An investigation into the "curse" of Oak Island, where rumors of buried riches have beguiled treasure hunters over the past two centuries

  • Save 12%
    by Scott McIntyre
    £11.49

    Stone setting can often appear mysterious and impossible: an ancient craft used to hold beautiful gems secure in the most elegant of designs. This practical book explains the techniques of the master stone setter in an accessible and encouraging style. Written by Scott McIntyre, it explains the complex world of setting with step-by-step instructions, supported by informative illustrations and excellent examples of finished pieces. It is a manual that shines with inspiration and practical advice. Topics covered include: setting techniques, from bezel, claw and flush, through to single row and multiple pave, then to skilled methods such as channel and microclaw. Advice is given on the options and attributes of each type of setting , as well as ideas for mixing styles and experimenting with setting methods. It is written informally throughout with an emphasis on patience and precision.

  • - Calming therapy an anti-stress coloring book
    by Sabella Blossom
    £8.49

  • Save 29%
    - A Life in Ink
     
    £31.99

  • Save 27%
    by Karen Cheng
    £21.99

    Designing Type ist ein umfassender Leitfaden zum Schriftdesign. In dieser überarbeiteten Ausgabe werden die Prozesse, die der Entwicklung von Schriften zugrunde liegen, eingehender erörtert sowie die grundlegenden Fragen zu visuellen Prinzipien und Buchstabenkonstruktion, optischer Kompensation und Lesbarkeit beleuchtet. Die Gestaltung des Buches gewinnt durch Einführung zeitgemäßer Schriften, mehr erklärende Diagramme und eine engere Verbindung von Text und entsprechendem Bild. Ein Muss für Typografen, Grafikdesigner und Studenten!

  • Save 24%
    by Guerrilla Girls
    £18.99

    It's about time! The Guerrilla Girls, the masked feminist avengers who have been critiquing and reshaping the art world for decades, have compiled the very first career-spanning volume of their radical art activism, published to coincide with their 35th anniversary.

  • Save 29%
    - Look Within
    by Ziggy Marley
    £31.99

    In honour of Bob Marley's seventy-fifth birthday, this glorious oversize book collects more than 150 photographs that celebrate the life and influence of the forefather of reggae and one of the greatest musical and sociopolitical icons of twentieth-century pop culture.

  • Save 18%
    - Forgotten Stars and Stories
    by Carla Valderrama
    £20.49

    The creator of the leading classic Hollywood Instagram account, This Was Hollywood, offers a fresh take on film history - presenting a collection of fascinating, under-the-radar stories both from cinema's forgotten past and about its most beloved legends.

Culture
What defines culture you might ask? The answer is culture is what defines you. It is what makes us humans human and differentiate us from all other species on the planet. Art and culture is what we share with others, whether it is so called high culture or pop culture. High culture is typically associated with the ‘finer’, classical art forms such as opera, classical music, visual art, ballet and plays. Works that often have a certain age and artistic acknowledgement begin it, but fine culture is also sometimes seen as “high-brow” and not something everyone can understand and that’s sad, because culture and cultural books are for everyone no matter the kind. On the other end of the spectrum we have pop culture that typically is associated with more modern, popular and mainstream forms of culture. It can be pop music, cartoons or big blockbuster movies. We have cultural books from each side of the spectrum, but the best thing is that a change between the two concepts is coming and people are more open about mixing high culture and pop culture, because they are not that different at all. The most important thing about culture is that it connects us and is part of who we are. It can create communities and friendships, but also let us reflect upon ourselves. You can get wiser on that topic in some of our selection’s culture books. 

Art
In our selection you find some of the finest art books featuring some of the greatest artists in history and now. Art is a very important part of our culture. In art you have the possibility of getting engrossed in a wonderful painting, a provocative sculpture, a brilliant play or a beautiful ballet. 
In art you can get lost in the most wonderful stories and themes and identify yourself with someone who doesn’t necessarily look and act like you. By experiencing that you improve your ability of empathy. At the same time you can learn about yourself through art and art books especially when it comes to feelings that can be difficult to describe. In art the themes and problematics are universal and that’s why we feel recognized when experiencing a play, listening to a symphony, studying a great painting or reading a good art book. The art books are best enjoyed in a relaxed setting giving the art room to speak. 
Another beautiful thing about art is that it needs interpretation. When a person meets a well painted painting, a classical sculpture, or a provocative installation it makes us reflect about what it means, and what the art will tell us about society, life or yourself. Everyone can get something different out of a good artwork, because it speaks directly to you and functions as a dialog, where you will have to finish the sentence with your interpretation taking our own life and experiences into the artwork.
We also have a lot of artist books. One of the most talented and popular artists right now are the world famous Dane Vilhelm Hammershøi. Hammershøi has a very significant way of painting giving voice to the melankolic side of the world and of us humans. The painter is famous for his artworks of especially white doors in his apartment in Copenhagen. In the paintings Hammershøi plays with light and shadow in a brilliant way giving room to both sides, which also could be seen as a reflection of life that contains both. The motive also makes the art watcher wonder what is on the other side of the doors or corridors making them compose a continuation of the painting. You can read about Hammershøi in an European context in the artist book Hammershoi and Europe

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