SUNDAY SKETCHING
By Christoph Niemann, Abrams, R552
Ever since watching Abstract, a documentary about Christoph Niemann, I've been obsessed with the German illustrator's wacky way of viewing the world.
In his Sunday Sketching project, which he uses to free himself from the confines of briefs, he spends time in his studio creating sketches that incorporate random objects. An orange becomes the belly of a man who's eaten too much; two bananas become the hind legs of a jumping horse; two screws are the hands on a clock which rotate as he moves the paper around.
Sunday Sketching is a collection of these witty doodles that combine photography and illustration in surprising ways. It showcases Niemann's observations of contemporary life through sketches, travel journals and popular newspaper features.OVERVIEW
By Benjamin Grant, Potter, R580
Benjamin Grant began his Daily Overview project in December 2013 when he started posting striking images he found while scouring Google Earth. He wanted to give his Instagram followers an insight into the "Overview Effect" experienced by astronauts orbiting the Earth.
In this book, Grant has created more than 200 original images by stitching together many high-resolution satellite photographs.
With each image he aims to inspire a fresh perspective of our planet as well as encourage a new understanding of what human impact looks like. Think the California drought, the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, or positive images such as massive wind and solar farms or an Argentine forest in the shape of a guitar. Beautifully presented, with awe-inspiring imagery, this is an ideal gift.THE FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
By Hans Christian Andersen, Taschen, R550
You may wonder why we're featuring a book of fairy tales in the Home section, but, as with everything produced by Taschen, this book is a design gem.
The perfect fireside read, it takes childhood classics, from The Princess and the Pea to The Snow Queen, The Emperor's New Clothes and The Ugly Duckling, and illustrates them with vintage artwork from the 1890s through to the 1980s.
Featured artists hail from Scandinavia to Japan and include greats such as Kay Nielsen, Josef Palecek, Tom Seidmann-Freud (niece of Sigmund Freud), and the groundbreaking film animator Lotte Reiniger.
A repackaged treasure chest of tales, this book is sure to charm for generations to come.STYLED
By Emily Henderson, Crown Publishing, R550
When it comes to your home, you know what you like, you know where to buy it, but you just can't seem to make it look like it does in the mags. This is a common scenario which stylist, author and television host Emily Henderson aims to solve in this beautifully presented book.
With a step-by-step approach, she helps you define your style through her style diagnostic, and then follows on with 10 steps to styling your home.
Taking you room by room, vignette by vignette, and showing you how to style each piece so your whole space looks intentional, personal and beautiful, Henderson uses her extensive experience to help you put together your own version of a magazine-ready home...