BELLAS ARTES

This volume celebrates the 10th anniversary of Museo Jumex, Mexico City’s most important contemporary art museum, and its unique collection. Located in the vibrant Polanco neighborhood of Mexico City, Museo Jumex opened its doors to the public in 2013 as a one-of-a-kind museum devoted to the production and discussion of contemporary art. Founded by Eugenio López Alonso, a pioneer in the realm of contemporary art collecting in Mexico, and designed by Sir David Chipperfield, 2023 winner of the Pritzker Architecture award, Museo Jumex has achieved international recognition for its dual mission of bringing works of renowned international artists to Mexico for the first time and elevating the work of today’s Mexican and Latin American artists.

For Brudnizki, color is an essential ingredient for storytelling and conjuring atmosphere. Color is a force that brings his spaces to life, defining them, and enhancing the experience within them; it is a character in itself and Brudnizki uses it to blur the lines between eras and styles, to marry heritage with modern luxury. From the fantasy-full and decadent rococo interiors of London members club Annabel’s to the soft, muted palette of the Splendido’s Baronessa Suite and the Parisian spirit of the restaurant at New York’s outpost of Fouquet’s, Brudnizki’s signature paintbrush imbues his interiors with idiosyncrasy and flair. In this enchanting volume, the designer draws inspiration from nature, art, fashion, and history to show us how color influences his life and work. The charming design of the book brings the magic of his world to life: classical busts are unmoored from their pedestals, silky peonies embellish texts, candelabras glow, and birds flutter free from their frescoes and travel with us for pages. Each chapter is devoted to a single color, illuminating how Brudnizki leverages the emotional power of color to enhance the overwhelmingly beautiful and luxurious spaces he creates.

Tras el éxito de La Música de la Memoria, libro dedicado a los grandes músicos del siglo XIX, Xavier Güell se adentra en los años más oscuros del siglo xx. Cuarteto de la guerra narra la historia de cuatro hombres que luchan por su vida y por su música cuando los totalitarismos y el horror bélico asolan Europa. Nueva York, Berlín, Múnich, Moscú, Barcelona y Los Ángeles son los escenarios donde transcurre el épico enfrentamiento de cuatro grandes compositores con el poder político de su tiempo, para evitar que su obra sea sometida, dirigida y utilizada, a la vez que procuran desesperadamente la supervivencia de los seres que aman. Cuarteto de la guerra reflexiona así mismo sobre la música como revelación y sabiduría, como eco de lo intangible, como impulso directo a lo más profundo del alma, sobre el diálogo entre el hombre y lo invisible y, por último, sobre el sentido de nuestra propia existencia. En el segundo volumen de la tetralogía, Nadie logrará conocerse, Richard Strauss, considerado el mayor compositor de su tiempo, decide permanecer en la Alemania nazi y aceptar la presidencia de la Cámara de Música del Reich con el propósito de proteger a su familia -su nuera y sus dos nietos son judíos-, asegurar el estreno de su ópera La mujer silenciosa, cuyo libreto ha escrito el judío Stefan Zweig, y favorecer la cultura alemana. Decisión controvertida que le hará aparecer a los ojos del mundo como un colaboracionista y ser sometido, al final de la guerra, a un proceso de desnazificación que durará más de tres años. Los restantes títulos de Cuarteto de la guerra están dedicados a Béla Bartók (Cuarteto de la guerra I. Si no puedes, yo respiraré por ti), Dimitri Shoshtakóvich (Cuarteto de la guerra III. Y Stalin se levantó y se fue) y Arnold Schoenberg (Cuarteto de la guerra IV. Romperé los cerrojos con el viento).

In the architecture of Richard Neutra (1892–1970), inside and outside find their perfect modernist harmony. As the Californian sun glints off sleek building surfaces, vast glass panel walls allow panoramic views over mountains, gardens, palm trees, and pools. Neutra moved to the United States from his native Vienna in 1923 and settled in Los Angeles. He displayed his affinity with architectural settings early on with the Lovell House, set on a landscaped hill with views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Mountains. Later projects such as the Kaufmann House and Nesbitt House would continue this blend of art, landscape, and living comfort, with Neutra’s clients often receiving detailed questionnaires to define their precise needs. This richly illustrated architect introduction presents the defining projects of Neutra’s career. As crisp structures nestle amid natural wonders, we celebrate a particularly holistic brand of modernism which incorporated the ragged lines and changing colors of nature as much as the pared down geometries of the International Style.

Having moved around a lot as a child, Harding has always been interested in creating homes that evoke a sense of belonging. After designing several homes for herself, what began as a passion grew organically into a thriving career. Today Harding is known for her quintessentially British, reassuringly familiar interiors that mix traditional charm with rich atmosphere. A sense of meaning comes from deftly weaving together expertly sourced antiques and luxurious fabrics, married with craftsmanship that has a particular significance—for example, a supplier who works in a village near where a client grew up, or antiques from local dealers.  With a calming, nature-inspired palette, Harding’s residential projects embrace English country-house coziness and radiate a warmth that makes each place feel personal and well lived in, while her hospitality commissions are bold and spirited, often inspired by literary or historic characters. This first book delves into Harding’s design philosophy, which, at its heart, prioritizes human experience above all else.