Natural History, 18

Lords of the Earth The Entwined Destiny of Wildlife and Humanity

Cyril Christo, Marie Wilkinson, Lysander Christo

For more than 40 years, Cyril Christo – son of the artist duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude – his wife Marie, and his son Lysander have been traveling among the last indigenous peoples of our time and documenting their relationship with nature. On their visits to far-flung places such as New Guinea, Tibet, Africa, the Amazon River, and the vast expanse of the Arctic, they have witnessed many instances of the spiritual connection between humans and nature.

In conjunction with a gripping essay and relevant quotations, the photographs give a fascinating account of Christo’s and Wilkinson’s experiences, encounters, and their belief in the beauty and significance of that ancient continent.

9783862069446

Verlag Kettler 9.5 x 11.75in. 180pp., 119 b.&w. February 2022 $75.00/CDN$5??? Paperback Cyril Christo, Marie Wilkinson and Lysander Christo have captured the endangered soul of Africa, threatened by humans and climate change, in a series of striking duotone images.

One of a Kind The Unique World of Island Animals

Mario Ludwig

This book of photographs puts the spotlight on a group of animals that is little-noticed, and undeservedly so: endemic species that exist only on their respective islands. Isolated from continents by the ocean, certain species have been able to evolve further and differently than their counterparts on the mainland, where they are subjected to far more threats such as predators and diseases. Over time, giants like the Indonesian Komodo dragon have evolved, which grows up to three meters long and weighs 70 kilos. The comet moth lives on Madagascar, and the odd King of Saxony bird-of-paradise flies around on New Guinea. The flightless cormorant on Galapagos, on the other hand, retracted its flight instruments over time because it had no need for them. Readers can expect a variety of animal beauty and extravagance.

9783961713905

teNeues Publishing 9.25 x 11.75in. 224pp., 150 col. May 2022 $65.00/CDN$85.00 Hardcover English, German

Fascinating animal species that exist only on their respective islands, in the spotlight for the first time ever.

RHS Orchids Charlotte Brooks

Orchids have long held a place of esteem and fascination in the horticultural world. In the 19th century, orchid collecting reached new fanatical heights, with explorers dispatched to every corner of the globe in search of new varieties that could be auctioned at extravagant prices, and orchids are still one of the most popular flowers to breed and buy to this day. These beautiful, diverse flowers are one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with over 30,000 species and over 181,500 hybrids and cultivars. The RHS Orchid Committee have commissioned watercolors of over 7,000 award-winning hybrids that demonstrate particular value in their fabulous array of colors, patterns, sizes and shapes. Through these paintings, stories of high stakes orchid breeding and exhibiting are explored, with a cast of characters who helped shape the horticultural world we know today, alongside the dedicated artists who still support their endeavors.

A guide to the stunning collection of Orchid Award Portraits from the Lindley Collections at the Royal Horticultural Society.

9781788841610

ACC Art Books 8.5 x 10.625in. 256pp., 145 col. May 2022 $45.00/CDN$57.50 Hardcover

Indian Botanical Art An Illustrated History

Martyn Rix

This book brings together striking botanical art of Indian origin spanning a period of 300 years, focussing on the 18th and 19th centuries. Drawn mostly from original works held in the collections of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, some of the paintings have never been published before. They showcase the richness and variety of art commissioned from talented, mostly unknown, Indian artists who made a substantial contribution to the documentation of the flora of the Indian subcontinent.

A foreword written by Sita Reddy places the collections in contemporary context. The book concludes with works from a new generation of botanical artists in India, who excite interest today.

This book brings together striking botanical art of Indian origin spanning a period of three hundred years, focussing on the 18th and 19th centuries.

9788195256655

Roli Books 7.5 x 9.5in. 224pp., 189 col. March 2022 $34.95/CDN$45.00 Hardcover