This author is a scholar and pro-democracy activist who explores public discourse and civic engagement. Through their principal projects, they aim to revive the tradition of philosophical inquiry and foster active citizenship. Their work emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and collective decision-making in modern democracy. They highlight how shared conversations can lead to a more informed and engaged populace.
"This moving, insightful and ultimately hopeful and helpful blend of memoir and philosophical exploration begins in Christopher Phillips's native stomping grounds of the tiny volcanic island of Nisyros, Greece and unfurls through space and time as the author explores the connections between his immediate circumstances and the eternal wisdom of popular philosophers"--
Aerial photography serves as the focal point of this exploration of urban landscapes, showcasing Olivo Barbieri's decade-long project capturing 25 cities globally. The book chronicles his evolution as a photographer, starting with distinctive tilt-shift images that sparked a new stylistic trend. As the series progresses, Barbieri employs innovative techniques to manipulate color and detail, creating a thought-provoking commentary on modern urban spaces and the art of photography. The stunning design and large format enhance the visual experience, with an introduction by Christopher Phillips.
An unprecedented analysis of the crucial but underexplored roles the United States and other nations have played in shaping Syria’s ongoing civil war“One of the best informed and non-partisan accounts of the Syrian tragedy yet published.”—Patrick Cockburn, Independent Syria’s brutal, long-lasting civil war is widely viewed as a domestic contest that began in 2011 and only later drew foreign nations into the fray. But in this book Christopher Phillips shows the crucial roles that were played by the United States, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar in Syria’s war right from the start. Phillips untangles the international influences on the tragic conflict and illuminates the West’s strategy against ISIS, the decline of U.S. power in the region, and much more. Originally published in 2016, the book has been updated with two new chapters.
Focusing on Arab identity in the modern Middle East, this book explores its persistence alongside state and religious identities over the past four decades. It delves into the complexities of cultural and national identity, providing insights into the factors that have contributed to its resilience in a rapidly changing socio-political landscape.
Life and Dreams: Contemporary Chinese Photography and Media Art is the first comprehensive catalogue showcasing works by Chinese artists from The Walther Collection. It features visually inventive and emotionally engaging artworks by 44 pioneering artists, highlighting the rapid emergence of photography and media art as significant elements in experimental Chinese art since the early 1990s. The catalogue illustrates how these media have been embraced by successive generations of artists. The photographic works reflect artists’ reactions to profound social and economic transformations that have reshaped China's cities and everyday life. Key themes explored include the use of the body as a medium for creative expression, the exploration of architectural environments, the integration of classical imagery to address contemporary issues, and the examination of China's diverse political histories. Additionally, the works shape new forms of individual and collective identity. Selected media art pieces employ imaginative and fantastical elements to portray a world of technological ambiguity, hinting at the future direction of China and its people. Co-published with The Walther Collection, Neu-Ulm and New York.
This is the most comprehensive look to date at the work of Atta Kim, one of Korea's most distinctive contemporary artists. Born in 1956, Kim uses photography to create dramatic, large-scale works that reflect his fascination with philosophical questions. The "Deconstruction Series" (1992-95) features disconcerting images of seemingly lifeless men and women whose naked bodies are scattered like seeds in open fields and desolate natural settings. In the "Museum Project" (1995-2002), Kim poses people drawn from a wide range of social types in clear acrylic boxes lit like museum vitrines and placed in a variety of urban and natural locations. These images of what he ironically calls "contemporary treasures" provide an unusual perspective on contemporary approaches to sexuality, materialism, politics and religion. For the large-scale, visually spectacular color photographs of the "On-Air Project" (2002 to the present), Kim employed extended exposures--sometimes as long as eight hours--to explore fundamental questions of time and perception. Using such varied subjects as parliamentary sessions, soccer games, outdoor military exercises and erotic unions, he suggests the ephemerality of human existence, and that it is possible for us to perceive the passage of time in radically different ways. Atta Kim includes a career-spanning interview with the artist by ICP curator Christopher Phillips.
Japanese contemporary artists have mined some distinctive territory in the past decade or two--from the Superflat movement, to the referencing of traditional art objects like scrolls or contemporary pop phenomena like manga. Within these conventions, certain themes continually surface--nature in conflict with the manmade world, costuming and the search for personal identity and the child as cultural icon. Heavy Light identifies these themes as they are evidenced in recent Japanese photo-based art, and examines how they are reshaping Japanese tradition. This volume is published in conjunction with the major Spring 2008 exhibition at New York's International Center of Photography, which includes a diverse selection of artists: Makoto Aida, Naoya Hatakeyama, Naoki Kajitani, Hiroh Kikai, Midori Komatsubara, Yukio Nakagawa, Asako Narahashi, Tsuyoshi Ozawa, Tomoko Sawada, Risaku Suzuki, Miwa Yanagi, Kenji Yanobe and Masayuki Yoshinaga. Also featured in this volume are extensive interviews with the artists, offering accounts of their working methods and their thoughts on the influence of contemporary art on Japanese culture during the last several decades of rapid change. In addition, art historian Linda Nochlin and writer Akiko Otake provide invaluable essays.
Exploring the essence of love beyond mere eroticism, the book delves into various forms such as love of neighbor, country, God, life, and wisdom. Through engaging Socratic dialogues with diverse individuals globally, it seeks to clarify and enrich these concepts, revealing the profound connections that make life meaningful. Christopher Phillips invites readers to reflect on their own understanding of love and its vital role in human existence.
The essential guide to geopolitics in the modern Middle East in the aftermath of the Arab Spring
"A unique consideration of the role of quantitative measurement and human judgment, Scouting and Scoring provides an entirely fresh understanding of baseball by showing what the sport reveals about reliable knowledge in the modern world." --