Rosa Maria Falvo

This is the first retrospective monograph on artist Rashid Al Khalifa. Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa is a member of the Bahraini royal family and the cofounder, first president, and current honorary president of the Bahrain Arts Society. He has painted for more than forty-five years across various genres, and his art practice has evolved into his current dual-concept work between abstraction and sculpture, using a precise color field. Rashid Al Khalifa is one of the most important artists working in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and he is a renowned patron of the arts, with an abiding passion and discerning eye for color and design. His generosity, vision, and dynamism have had a significant impact on Bahrain's contemporary-art scene and its integration in the rest of the world. Rashid initiated the creation of Art Bahrain in 2010, which has sponsored a variety of cultural initiatives, art exhibitions, and educational projects, locally, regionally, and internationally. This lavishly illustrated book includes a detailed narrative of the artist's life and achievements. It features over 200 color plates documenting the artist's output to date, including his work in oil, acrylics, and print media, as well as a selection of drawings and sculptures. Archival documents provide further depth and contextual background, with timelines of historical and artistic developments in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Ha Chong-Hyun (b. 1935, Sancheong-gun; lives and works in Seoul) is a master artist within the Dansaekhwa art movement Korean monochrome painting distinguished by its attention to the formal structure of the picture plane and the incorporation of East Asian spirituality. Amid extreme material deprivation and the authoritarian political system of 1960s and 70s Korea, Ha explored the potential of unorthodox materials such as newsprint, scrap lumber, and barbed wire attached to canvas. Working with muted earth tones on burlap and hemp canvases, and combining painting traditions from the East and West, Ha was instrumental in redefining the role of painting. In 1969, the artist cofounded the Korean Avant-Garde Association to generate new directions for Korean art through various art publications and group exhibitions. By the 80s, his practice centered on the physical act of painting and a turn to darker, more saturated colors. His long-standing focus on form and process position him as a visionary contributor to contemporary painting in the global context. Published to celebrate the artist s upcoming ninetieth birthday, this beautifully illustrated volume is a fitting tribute to a revelatory figure.

Acclaimed architect Rafiq Azam (b. 1963) has been instrumental over the course of his storied career in transforming the urban landscape in Bangladesh s capital of Dhaka. Azam s signature style finds harmony between cultural and spiritual traditions, local craftsmanship and materials, and the country s complex natural environment. No design element is too small to be poetically incorporated into his buildings and city planning projects. His attention to light and shadow, bodies of water, indigenous vegetation, and air flow shows the influence of Bengali mysticism. In 1995, Azam founded his own internationally renowned architectural firm, SHATOTTO 'Architecture for Green Living,' dedicated to creating responsible buildings while educating different community stakeholders to value environmentally conscious innovation and sustainable practices. This groundbreaking volume contains Azam s most significant public and private projects in Dhaka, alongside his other major South Asian projects in Malaysia and Bhutan. Illustrations accompanied by insightful commentary sit alongside an extensive conversation with Azam on decades of design thinking and large-scale, community-focused practice in the 'new' Bangladesh.

Founded in 1900, Nikken Sekkei is a world leader in architectural innovation, urban planning and technology. Instrumental in achieving the modernization of Japan itself, the company is both a national icon and renowned international creator of architectural, engineering, and environmental landmarks. This beautifully designed book is an elegant tribute to Nikken Sekkei s remarkable achievements and contributions to world architecture over the last 120 years. A poetic photographic journey features Nikken s approach to timeless design: its integrated perspectives, meticulous craftsmanship, and quintessential Japanese traditions. Tracing the company s exceptional story and its enduring passion for sustainability, it will delight general audiences and experts alike. Narrated from a micro to macro perspective, this book features elemental shapes and surfaces that manifest into spaces and environments, encompassing both intimate and masterful initiatives. Over twenty-four selected projects showcase Nikken Sekkei s reputation and experience. Some are iconic international landmarks and others are quietly nestled in their respective landscapes. All of them demonstrate the company s dedication to people, communities, and the natural world.