Thais began shooting films in 1900; cinema soon became a very popular form of entertainment, which had its "golden age" in the 1930s. This book provides both a history of Thai cinema and a visual record of all the associated memorabilia, including movie posters.

A Century of Thai Cinema (River Books)

Humor & Entertainment

Sukwong, Dome

Suwannapak, Sawasdi

Movies

River Books Press Dist A/C

Born two years before the invention of daguerreotype and the birth of photography, Thomson first traveled to Asia in 1862 where he set up a professional photographic studio. The local culture and the people of Asia fascinated him, and in 1868 he made his second trip, this time settling in Hong Kong. Between 1868 and 1872, Thomson made extensive trips to Guangdong, Fujian, Beijing, China's northeast and down the Yangtse River, covering nearly 5000 miles. This exhibition catalogue is drawn from his time in these regions. These were the early days of photography when negatives were made on glass plates that had to be coated with emulsion before the exposure was made. A huge amount of cumbersome equipment had to be carried from place to place and with perseverance, great energy and stamina, Thomson managed to take a wide variety of images and themes, including landscapes, people, and architecture, domestic and street scenes. As a foreigner, his ability to gain access to photograph women is also remarkable. In China, Thomson excelled as a photographer in quality, depth and breadth, and in artistic sensibility.

China: Through the Lens of John Thomson (1868-1872)

Arts & Photography

Yao, Betty

Photography & Video

International award winning artist Rirkrit Tiravanija has collected in this lavishly illustrated book, 23 classic recipes that he has reinterpreted in galleries all over the world, including the Guggenheim in New York and the Serpentine, London Unique commentary and record of one of the world's most popular and best-selling avant-garde artists Extended interview with the author about his work and how it fits in to the world art market Born in Buenos Aires in 1961, contemporary artist Rirkrit Tiravanija resides in New York, Berlin and Chiang Mai, Thailand. His installations often take the form of stages or rooms for sharing meals, cooking, reading or playing music; architecture or structures for living and socializing are core elements in his work. In 2004 he was awarded the Hugo Boss Prize by the Guggenheim Museum, in recognition of his profound contribution to contemporary art and is a Professor at the School of the Arts at Columbia University. Tiravanija's work has been presented widely at museums and galleries throughout the world, including solo exhibitions at Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (2005); Serpentine Gallery, London (2005); Secession, Vienna (2002); The Museum of Modern Art, New York (1997), Galerie fur Zeitgenossische Kunst, Leipzig (2003); Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, UK (2003-04); and Gavin Brown's Enterprise (1999). He has participated in such notable group exhibitions as the Sharjah Biennial 8, United Arab Emirates (2007); 27th Sao Paulo Biennial, Brazil (2006); Whitney Biennial 2006: Day for Night, New York (2005), and was the co-curator with Hans Ulrich Obrist and Molly Nesbit of the Station Utopia Project at the 50th Venice Biennale (2003). Most recently he has exhibited at Tang Contemporary Beijing (2010) and Kunsthalle Bielefeld (2010). Cook Book contains 23 recipes, previously performed in museums and galleries throughout the world. All were cooked once more in his Chiang Mai kitchen and documented in the photographs by Antoinette Aurell. An essay by Thomas Kellein of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld and an extended interview between him and the artist shed additional light on Rirkrit's work. Through this book the reader will understand more of what moves the artist as well as being able to cook such Thai staples from Pad Thai to Flaming Morning Glory, as well as new interpretations of Swedish, German and Spanish classics such as meatballs, Fladlesoup and paella.

Rirkrit Tiravanija: Cook Book

Cookbooks, Food & Wine

Cooking Education & Reference

Exhibition catalogue of the George Chinnery exhibition at Asia House, London (and possibly touring thereafter) November 2011 - February 2012. Includes many paintings from private collections never seen in public before.

The Flamboyant Mr Chinnery: An English Artist in India and China

Conner, Patrick

Reference

• Includes 244 portraits of former political prisoners, 57 taken at risk inside Burma, working with underground networks • Celebrates the anniversary of Aung San Suu Kyi's release from house arrest • Records the fearless struggle for democracy by the Burmese • A unique approach to highlighting the plight of political prisoners In 1962, a military coup lead by General Ne Win saw Burma, an isolated Buddhist country in South-East Asia, come under the power of one of the world's most brutal regimes. For the past five decades, thousands of people have been arrested, tortured and given long prison sentences for openly expressing their beliefs. Today, more than 2,000 political prisoners including monks, students, journalists, lawyers, elected Members of Parliament and over 300 members of Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party, The National League for Democracy, are incarcerated in horrendous conditions in Burma's notorious prisons. In Burma and accross the world, hundreds of former political prisoners have come together to raise awareness of the tragic plight of their colleagues still detained in jail. Abhaya: Burma's Fearlessness is part of an international appeal for their liberation. Photographed standing with their right hand raised, palm out-turned facing the camera, the name of a current political prisoner is shown written on their hand. The sacred Buddhist gesture of Abhaya, 'Fear Not', is not only an act of silent protest, but also one of remembrance and fearlessness. "The people featured in this book have all had to learn to face their fears squarely during the decades they have passed in the struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma. Their commitment has been their courage. It is important that they and what they stand for should not be forgotten, that their suffering as well as their aspirations should be remembered. James Mackay has contributed greatly towards this vital remembrance, which is essential if our world is to become a progressively safer, kinder home for humanity." "I hope that all who read this book will be encouraged to do everything they can to gain the freedom of political prisoners in Burma and to create a world where there are no political prisoners." Aung San Suu Kyi

Abhaya: Burma's Fearlessness

History

Mackay,James

Asia

Within the context of Thai cosmology and numerology, Therevada Buddhism and spirit religion, this lavishly illustrated book examines how good and bad spirits are formulated to bring good luck and protection or to cause bad luck. Extensive field work studies over a period of four years were conducted in the Shan States (now part of Burma/Myanmar) and in northern Thailand. Using her field notes and photographs, Susan Conway provides a colourful picture of the people who create magic and explains how mystical remedies are prescribed and the rituals involved. She includes material from museum collections in the USA, UK and Thailand.

Tai Magic: Arts of the Supernatural

Politics & Social Sciences

CONWAY, SUSAN

Philosophy

This new edition of Andrew Marshall's classic book on Burma includes a gripping eyewitness account of the Saffron Revolution, the 2007 democratic uprising led by Buddhist monks.Inspired by the diaries of a forgotten Victorian adventurer called Sir George Scott, Andrew Marshall set out to discover the real Burma - an impoverished nation then ruled by a repressive regime. Scott was a die-hard imperialist who hacked, bullied and charmed his way through uncharted jungles to help establish British colonial rule. Braving government spies and the after-effects of some powerful local hooch, Marshall retraces Scott's intrepid footsteps into Burma's remote tribal heartlands to encounter the bewitching 'giraffe women' and the former headhunters of the Wild Wa. His journey is an offbeat exploration of Britain's lost heritage and a powerful exposé of Burma's modern tragedy.   

The Trouser People: Burma in the Shadows of the Empire

Marshall, Andrew

The secrets of the great temple and city of Banteay Chmar have been buried in this vast forestclad sandstone ruin for 800 years. Now that it is finally being restored, it is revealed as the twin-hub of the Khmer Empire under its greatest king, Jayavarman VII (1181-1219), the 47 Buddha-faced towers linking it with Angkor s 59 tower Bayon.As well as taking the visitor on a detailed tour of the monument, the book includes a new translation of the temple's main inscription, aligned with a contemporary inscription in neighboring Champa. This recounts the lost story of how the Cambodians marshalled their army in this temple, sending it from here to conquer Champa. The campaign is also reflected in a 'newsreel' of politico-military reliefs carved into the outer gallery of the temple, lavishly illustrated here for the first time. In addition, the story surrounding the unique series of Avalokiteshvara reliefs, their partial theft and recovery are also discussed.Banteay Chhmar was also key to the gathering and distribution of precious medicinal herbs for the world's first chain of 102 hospitals under the care of the gentle medicine Buddha Bhaisajyaguru.

Banteay Chhmar: Garrison Temple of the Khmer Empire

Zephir, Thierry

JACQUES, Claude

Sharrock, Peter D.

Cunin, Olivier

HOW A BELIEF MAY CHANGE YOUR LIFE During the last twenty years, tattooing has experienced a real renaissance in modern societies. For hundreds of years before this, however, Buddhist monks, using magical incantations and spells, have been covering people's bodies with indelible ink in the belief that the markings will bring luck, wealth, and blessings. People remain convinced that tattoos provide protection against evil spirits and can render the bearer invulnerable, even to stab wounds and bullets. Known in Thailand as Sak Yant, these ancient tattoos are today experiencing a revival in popularity, both in their countries of origin and beyond. Fashion or social phenomenon, the demand for magical tattoos keeps rising. Hollywood stars, Singaporean businessmen, people from all walks of life flock to Thai Sak Yant Masters to have these powerful designs inked onto their bodies. At the same time, these tattooists are regularly invited to practice their art abroad, thus increasing the popularity of Sak Yant worldwide. Why do these sacred tattoos provoke such passion? Who are these men who perform Sak Yant, and who are those who get tattooed? Do these tattoos really have magical powers? These questions raise the issue of the influence not only of tattoos but also of amulets, cultural and religious beliefs and rituals, on the mind and health of the individual. Although, formerly regarded as irrational, today's scientific studies show how these beliefs influence a person's life and how tattoos and other symbols can work as placebos. Drawing on a wide range of contributions and from research fields as diverse as anthropology, religion, history, medicine and psychology, Thai Magic Tattoos - The Art and Influence of Sak Yant attempts to provide some understanding of the mechanisms by which a tattoo may actually change the life of the bearer. The book is based on extensive fieldwork over a period of three years in Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. Using their own photographs, field notes and in-depth interviews of Masters and Sak Yant believers, the authors provide a unique insight into the world of sacred tattoos and in doing so illustrate one of the last living examples of authentic traditional tattooing.

Thai Magic Tattoos: The Art and Influence of Sak Yant

Drouyer, Isabel Azevedo

Lacquerware Journeys includes rare examples of lacquerware never - before documented which are complemented by beautiful illustrations. This book is indispensible for the collector as well as a beautiful introduction for those new to lacquerware. It includes the first ever publishing of local masters and names' and locality of production Lacquerware Journeys focuses on unpublished tribal and regional lacquerware from previously inaccessible or remote areas of Burma. The author and photography team spent five years between 2005 - 2010 researching and traveling to visit peoples such as the Gadu-Ganan in Sagaing division, in order to find the most beautiful and rare lacquerware. Betel boxes and miniature wooden soon-okes (meal carriers) in plain black or red color are found within an area as large as five thousand square miles east to west between Banmauk and Homalin. Other shapes are almost impossible to find, except for a few pieces transported from other regions in the last century or in recent decades. In addition, new research from Lower Burma focuses on and provides detailed information on the lacquerware masters of this region and their workshops. The lacquerware of Rakhine state on the west coast of Burma, its masters, their names and localities of their production are also published for the first time.

Lacquerware Journeys: The Untold Story of Burmese Lacquer

Htun, Than

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