{"title":"Matthew Wilson","description":"\u003cp\u003eMatthew Wilson’s works invite readers to explore the rich interplay between art, symbolism, and the natural world. Through insightful examination, his books uncover the hidden meanings behind familiar forms and reveal how art shapes our understanding of happiness and beauty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom cultivating gardens to decoding visual language, Wilson guides a thoughtful journey across \u003cem\u003eArts \u0026amp; Culture\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eHome \u0026amp; Garden\u003c\/em\u003e. His writing appeals to those seeking inspiration and a deeper connection to the creative forces around them.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"symbols-in-art-by-matthew-wilson-9780500295748","title":"Symbols in Art","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIconography, the study of symbols—be they animals, artefacts, plants, shapes or gestures—is an essential element of art history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis guide unravels over fifty of the most common and intriguing visual symbols from across the globe from 2300 BCE to the present day. While symbols cross dialects and national boundaries, their meanings can vary and are often culturally specific. The snake, an object of fascination and mysticism in Aztec culture, usually represents sin in the West. Yinka Shonibare's \u003cem\u003eLast Supper\u003c\/em\u003e (2013) plays on the grapevine's historic associations to satiric and startling effect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMatt Wilson explores symbolism's subtle implications and overt and covert meanings, providing an indispensable tool for interpretation. A reference section includes suggestions for further reading and a glossary of art and historical terms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47082661576940,"sku":"9780500295748","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/2778343482366.jpg?v=1765276368"},{"product_id":"the-hidden-language-of-symbols-by-matthew-wilson-9780500025291","title":"The Hidden Language of Symbols","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA stimulating narrative and reference resource that guides the reader through the most significant symbols from worldwide art history.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhy do we reach for the red rose on Valentine's day? Where did the owl gain its reputation for wisdom? Why should you never trust a fox? In this visual tour through art history, Matthew Wilson pieces together a global visual language enshrined in art: the language of symbols.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSymbols exert a strong hold in the image-saturated 21st century, and have done so for thousands of years. From national emblems to corporate logos and emojis, our day-to-day lives abound with icons with roots in the distant past. Expert art historian Matthew Wilson traces the often surprising trajectories that symbols have taken through history, from their original purposes to their modern meanings, identifying the common themes and ideas that link seemingly disparate cultures. Thus we meet the falcon as a symbol of authority from the ancient Egyptian pharaohs to the medieval aristocracy; the dog as stalwart companion from the classical era to the Renaissance; and the mythical phoenix as a symbol of female power connecting a queen in England with a goddess in China. We also see moments of radical reinterpretation and change: the transformation of the swastika from an auspicious symbol of hope to one of hate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom Palaeolithic cave paintings to contemporary installations, Wilson deftly guides us through this world of symbols, showcasing their enduring ability to express power, hope, fear and faith, and to create and communicate identities, uniting - or dividing - the people that made them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47428268818668,"sku":"9780500025291","price":72.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780500025291.jpg?v=1774497288"},{"product_id":"landscape-man-making-a-garden-by-matthew-wilson-9781844007622","title":"Landscape Man: Making a Garden","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll gardeners are driven to create a landscape or garden that is their vision of perfection - whether that be a structured space complete with ordered tree avenues and immaculate rose beds, or a simple, inviting space for unwinding or entertaining. But just how do you go about turning that vision into reality?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWritten to accompany Channel 4's prime-time TV series, \u003cem\u003eLandscape Man: Making a Garden\u003c\/em\u003e by Matthew Wilson demystifies landscape and garden design and demonstrates how the ideas and techniques behind the incredible landscape projects featured in the series can be translated to your garden at home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStarting with the initial assessment and planning stages and using the gardens featured in the series as case studies, Matthew reveals the thinking that lies behind great garden design. He discusses the big issues that pre-occupy all gardeners: planning, providing for different needs, maximising space, and working with nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHe goes on to show readers how to capture their vision and transform their space, covering topics such as enhancing light levels and choosing plants for colour, texture, and form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlluring colour photography and detailed hand-drawn plans act as inspirational visual references, while straightforward action plans provide all the practical information needed to enable you to create your perfect outdoor space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on the inspiration behind the epic stories of the series, \u003cem\u003eLandscape Man: Making a Garden\u003c\/em\u003e is an informative, engaging, and essential guide to creating the garden of your dreams.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47680601063660,"sku":"9781844007622","price":14.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781844007622-landscape-man-making-a-garden.jpg?v=1779913061"},{"product_id":"art-unpacked-by-matthew-wilson-9780500025673","title":"Art Unpacked","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA down-to-earth, visual guidebook that shows how to 'read', understand and get the most out of art.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor beginners, art history might seem a daunting subject with complex rules and impenetrable technical language. Even for more seasoned art lovers, the question of how to think about art is a perennial riddle. \u003ci\u003eArt Unpacked\u003c\/i\u003e is the perfect resource for both audiences: an engaging, visual primer for the general reader, as well as educators.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDesigned like an instruction manual, fifty key artworks from around the world are deconstructed with pithy explanations, diagrams and close-ups, in order to reveal the elements that make up a masterpiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDating from the earliest times to the present, the artworks under analysis are drawn from many cultures, and cover all forms of visual media including: drawing, illustration, photography, prints and sculpture. Matthew Wilson's simplicity of approach, using established art historical methods, enables the reader to discover the fundamentals of art history, from considerations of function, historical context, iconography and artists' experience, to broader issues of identity including feminism, gender and postcolonialism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether it's the mask of Tutankhamun or Dorothea Lange's photograph of Migrant Mother, Hokusai's \u003ci\u003eGreat Wave\u003c\/i\u003e or Kara Walker's \u003ci\u003eGone\u003c\/i\u003e, each image is dissected on the page in a no-nonsense style, with explanatory notes detailing artists' sources of inspiration, associated styles and movements, plus any relevant quotes, related visuals and other contextual and issue-led information with keywords for handy cross-referencing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe resulting book is a dynamic, visual resource that will inspire and spark enjoyment of art in all its forms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48240669688044,"sku":"9780500025673","price":72.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780500025673-art-unpacked-1.jpg?v=1787923282"},{"product_id":"the-art-of-happiness-by-matthew-wilson-9780500298008","title":"The Art of Happiness","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA transformative guide to seeing differently - discover how engaging with art can spark joy, improve mental wellbeing, and help you reconnect with creativity, mindfulness and meaning in everyday life.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBy exploring how artists think and create, we can learn to shift our perspectives and discover new ways of living. In this insightful guide, author and art historian Matthew Wilson draws on his personal experiences and historical expertise to examine more than seventy works, revealing how the visual arts offer more than aesthetic pleasure - they can profoundly enrich and transform our lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAcross seven chapters - spanning creativity, the home, light, work, freedom, solace and love - you'll encounter art that can spark joy, mindfulness, and a rekindled zest for life and nature, while also encouraging a sense of collaboration. From David Hockney's epic morning commutes to Derek Jarman's serene sanctuaries, from Hiroshi Sugimoto's meditative Uchoten tea house to Cecilia Vicuña's immersive \u003ci\u003eBrain Forest Quipu\u003c\/i\u003e, and from Johannes Vermeer's \u003ci\u003eMilkmaid\u003c\/i\u003e to Maurizio Cattelan's provocative \u003ci\u003eComedian\u003c\/i\u003e, these works show how art can support mental wellbeing and help us rediscover the beauty of everyday moments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're a seasoned art lover or a curious beginner, \u003ci\u003eThe Art of Happiness\u003c\/i\u003e invites you to connect with art in more personally meaningful ways, approaching life with renewed attentiveness and appreciation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Bookreps NZ Limited","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48353501380844,"sku":"9780500298008","price":44.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780500298008-the-art-of-happiness-1.jpg?v=1789359482"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/matthew-wilson.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}