Synopses & Reviews
"You will own a piece of art history" —Quintessentially, London A tribute to one of the 20th century’s most influential, intriguing and controversial photographers
SUMO was a titanic book in every respect: it broke records for weight, dimensions, and resale price.
Helmut Newton (1920–2004) always demonstrated a healthy disdain for easy or predictable solutions. SUMO—a bold and unprecedented publishing venture—was an irresistible project. The idea of a spectacular compendium of images, a book with the dimensions of a private exhibition, reproduced to exceptional page size and to state-of-the-art origination and printing standards, emerged from an open, exploratory dialogue between photographer and publisher.
With the physically commanding SUMO weighing in—boxed and shrink-wrapped—at 35.4 kilos, Newton created a landmark book that stood head and shoulders above anything previously attempted, both in terms of conceptual extravagance and technical specifications.
Published in an edition of 10,000 signed and numbered copies, SUMO sold out soon after publication and quickly multiplied its value. This worldwide publishing sensation now features in numerous important collections around the world, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Legendary SUMO copy number one, autographed by over 100 of the book’s featured celebrities, also broke the record for the most expensive book published in the 20th century, selling at auction in Berlin on April 6, 2000 for 620,000 German Marks – approximately € 317,000.
SUMO established new standards for the art monograph genre, and secured a prominent place in photo-book history. This new edition, carefully revised by June Newton, is the fulfillment of an ambition conceived some years ago by Helmut Newton. He would surely be pleased that, a decade on from its first publication, SUMO—now in a format that allows for a more democratic distribution—will reach the widest possible audience.
However, proud owners of the new edition won’t wrestle with their copy of SUMO. It comes with a unique stand for displaying the book at home.
Text in English, French, and German
Synopsis
"SUMO" had presented a titanic tribute--weighing in at 661 pounds--to the 20th century's most influential, intriguing, and controversial photographer. Ten years after its original publication, the collection of Newton's photos is back--albeit in a more economical edition.
Synopsis
"You will own a piece of art history"--Quintessentially, London A tribute to one of the 20th century's most influential, intriguing and controversial photographers
SUMO was a titanic book in every respect: it broke records for weight, dimensions, and resale price.
Helmut Newton (1920-2004) always demonstrated a healthy disdain for easy or predictable solutions. SUMO--a bold and unprecedented publishing venture--was an irresistible project. The idea of a spectacular compendium of images, a book with the dimensions of a private exhibition, reproduced to exceptional page size and to state-of-the-art origination and printing standards, emerged from an open, exploratory dialogue between photographer and publisher.
With the physically commanding SUMO weighing in--boxed and shrink-wrapped--at 35.4 kilos, Newton created a landmark book that stood head and shoulders above anything previously attempted, both in terms of conceptual extravagance and technical specifications.
Published in an edition of 10,000 signed and numbered copies, SUMO sold out soon after publication and quickly multiplied its value. This worldwide publishing sensation now features in numerous important collections around the world, including New York's Museum of Modern Art. Legendary SUMO copy number one, autographed by over 100 of the book's featured celebrities, also broke the record for the most expensive book published in the 20th century, selling at auction in Berlin on April 6, 2000 for 620,000 German Marks - approximately 317,000.
SUMO established new standards for the art monograph genre, and secured a prominent place in photo-book history. This new edition, carefully revised by June Newton, is the fulfillment of an ambition conceived some years ago by Helmut Newton. He would surely be pleased that, a decade on from its first publication, SUMO--now in a format that allows for a more democratic distribution--will reach the widest possible audience.
However, proud owners of the new edition won't wrestle with their copy of SUMO. It comes with a unique stand for displaying the book at home and includes a companion booklet. Text in English, French, and German
Synopsis
An homage to Africa's people and wildlife
Sebastião Salgado is one the most respected photojournalists working today, his reputation forged by decades of dedication and powerful black-and-white images of distressed people taken in places where most wouldn’t dare to go. Although he has photographed around the globe, his work most heavily concentrates on Africa, where he has shot more than 40 reportage works over a period of 30 years. From the Dinka tribes in Sudan and the Himba in Namibia to gorillas and volcanoes in the lakes region to displaced peoples throughout the continent, Salgado shows us all facets of African life today. He knows exactly how to grab the essence of a moment and his images artfully teach us the disastrous effects of war, poverty, disease, and hostile climatic conditions. This stunning book brings together Salgado's photos in three parts: the first concentrates on the southern part of the continent (Mozambique, Malawi, Angola, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia), the second on the Great Lakes region (Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya), and the third on the Sub-Saharan region (Burkina Faso, Mali, Sudan, Somalia, Chad, Mauritania, Senegal, Ethiopia). Texts are provided by renowned Mozambique novelist Mia Couto, who describes how today's Africa reflects the effects of colonization as well as the consequences of economic, social, and environmental crises.
Synopsis
The biggest, most lavish book production of the 20th century is back!
SUMO was a titanic book in every respect: a 480-page tribute to the 20th century's most influential, intriguing and controversial photographer, breaking records for weight and dimensions. Fifty people worked with Helmut and June Newton for three years to complete a book that weighed 30kg (66lbs). But size wasn't everything. Control and quality - printing, paper, binding - were all critical in making SUMO a worldwide publishing sensation, which is in many famous collections all around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York.
About the Author
About the photographer:
Sebastião Salgado began his career as a professional photographer in Paris in 1973 and subsequently worked with the photo agencies Sygma, Gamma, and Magnum Photos. In 1994 he and his wife Lélia created Amazonas Images, an agency that handles exclusively his work. Salgado's photographic projects have been featured in many exhibitions as well as books, including Other Americas (1986), Sahel: l’homme en détresse (1986), Workers (1993), Terra (1997), Migrations (2000), and The Children (2000).
About the editor:
Lélia Deluiz Wanick Salgado studied Architecture and Urban Planning in Paris. Her interest in photography started in the early 1970s and she moved on to conceiving and designing photography books and organizing exhibitions, numerous of them on Sebastião Salgado. Since 1994 Lélia is director of the press agency Amazonas Images.
About the contributing Author -
Translated in more than 20 languages, Mia Couto is Mozambique’s most celebrated author. His first novel, Sleepwalking Land, was chosen by an international jury as one of twelve best African books published in the 20th century. He lives in Maputo, Mozambique and works as an ecologist.