A comprehensive, engrossing, and splendidly illustrated guide to the Buddhist art and architecture of Myanmar.
An illustrated book offers a wide-ranging overview of Buddhism in Myanmar.
Having been struck by the wonder and visual magnificence of Myanmar (Burma) during his travels there in 2015, Christel was inspired to write this work exploring the intricacies of the land, which, as he points out, has yet to be completely overrun with tourists. Visitors may find the place difficult to understand in any case, the author explains: “This is not a simple issue of democracy versus military junta. The practice of Theravada Buddhism for almost 90 per cent of the population includes some fatalism in order to reach nirvana.” Although Christel’s volume looks at a broad spectrum of the country’s life and art, the main focus here is on the many sects and flavors of Buddhism and the various ways the religion intertwines itself with all levels of society. Buddhism, the author writes, “is all over, sovereign in the behavior of people, their way of life, their kindness, and their beliefs, but also in the art and architecture.” That architecture in all its variety forms the heart of his book and is brought alive in a profusion of prints, ancient illustrations, and hundreds of original images by assorted photographers. Christel explores dozens of the nation’s art forms, from pottery and lacquer work to ancient manuscripts and various architectural styles. He explains everything with an assured combination of enthusiasm and knowledge, whether he’s writing about a tiny, obscure shrine perched on stilts off some little-visited waterway or an elaborate temple complex. The energy in tackling all of these details never flags; the author is always excited about the next discovery. “Burma is a treasure and a delight,” he writes. “One’s eyes are never at rest, and one must have the camera always ready for a shot.” Readers, whether they’ve been to Myanmar or not, will feel as if they’ve trekked all over the country with a friendly, knowledgeable guide.
A comprehensive, engrossing, and splendidly illustrated guide to the Buddhist art and architecture of Myanmar.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5437-5818-4
Page Count: 468
Publisher: Partridge Publishing
Review Posted Online: Oct. 15, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A virtuoso performance and an ode to an undervalued medium created by two talented artists.
The veteran actor, comedian, and banjo player teams up with the acclaimed illustrator to create a unique book of cartoons that communicates their personalities.
Martin, also a prolific author, has always been intrigued by the cartoons strewn throughout the pages of the New Yorker. So when he was presented with the opportunity to work with Bliss, who has been a staff cartoonist at the magazine since 1997, he seized the moment. “The idea of a one-panel image with or without a caption mystified me,” he writes. “I felt like, yeah, sometimes I’m funny, but there are these other weird freaks who are actually funny.” Once the duo agreed to work together, they established their creative process, which consisted of working forward and backward: “Forwards was me conceiving of several cartoon images and captions, and Harry would select his favorites; backwards was Harry sending me sketched or fully drawn cartoons for dialogue or banners.” Sometimes, he writes, “the perfect joke occurs two seconds before deadline.” There are several cartoons depicting this method, including a humorous multipanel piece highlighting their first meeting called “They Meet,” in which Martin thinks to himself, “He’ll never be able to translate my delicate and finely honed droll notions.” In the next panel, Bliss thinks, “I’m sure he won’t understand that the comic art form is way more subtle than his blunt-force humor.” The team collaborated for a year and created 150 cartoons featuring an array of topics, “from dogs and cats to outer space and art museums.” A witty creation of a bovine family sitting down to a gourmet meal and one of Dumbo getting his comeuppance highlight the duo’s comedic talent. What also makes this project successful is the team’s keen understanding of human behavior as viewed through their unconventional comedic minds.
A virtuoso performance and an ode to an undervalued medium created by two talented artists.Pub Date: Nov. 17, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-250-26289-9
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Celadon Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
PERSPECTIVES
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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