Martin Brauen Knihy

- Correspondence between von Wiegand and Mondrian published in full for the first time - With images of the original letters - Enlightening study of two 20th century artists In April 1941 Charmion von Wiegand (1896-1983), an American journalist and artist, met Piet Mondrian for an interview. From this very first meeting, a deep friendship and working relationship developed; she translated Mondrian's texts into English and edited them, discussed art and philosophy with him, and played a part in the evolution of many of the works he created up to his death in 1944. The artist's memoirs of their encounters and their comprehensive correspondence have now been published in full for the very first time. The texts portray a relationship fluctuating between burning affection and distant friendship, tenderness and harsh rejection, openness and reticence. A relationship that has left behind clear traces in Charmion von Wiegand's life and works - far beyond Mondrian's death. Nothing is the same as it once was!

When you think of Japan, bamboo springs to mind. This exotic plant was Hans Aprry's ruling passion. A resident of Yokohama from 1890 until 1896, the Zurich silk merchant lavished time and resources on amassing an incomparable collection of objects made of, or referring to, bamboo. As well as a wide variety of objects made from bamboo, the collection, which comprises about 1500 items, includes representations of bamboo on textiles, picture scrolls and in books, on ceramics, as decoration, sword accessories and utensils in daily use. Given to the Zurich Ethnography Museum, the Sprry Collection was - despite the superlative quality of the pieces - last on display a century ago! Martin Brauen has achieved a scholarly rescue of this treasure from neglect. The most important and finest pieces are brilliantly reproduced, with modern photographs supplemented by Japanese photos dating from about 1890 and period drawings illustrated the uses to which these bamboo objects were put and how they were made.