India Modern: Traditional Forms and Contemporary Design

By Herbert J.M. Ypma

Now in a miniature pocket form, and at an unbeatable price, India Modern is a visually stunning compilation of modern Indian design and architecture. This beautiful book examines contemporary sub-continental design and craft and places it within the context of native traditions and history. It looks at roots and themes from village societies to Mogul palaces, and shows how traditional forms and methods are reinvigorated in the contemporary arts.

Herbert Ypma travelled across India to bring together this array of astonishing images of buildings, textiles, ceramics and people. Together with a perceptive text on a variety of subjects (from the Indian use of colour to traditional methods of hand-looming ikat cloth), the images provide an insight into the emergence of an exciting aesthetic that combines traditional forms and contemporary designs.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0714839485
• ISBN13: 9780714839486
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: Phaidon Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 6.2"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Very good, great buy

I wish it was available in a larger format, as the limited space does just so much justice to the vibrant colors, moods, and designs of India. But it is a fantastic introduction, and is packed with some of the best quotes you can find on the topic....

Reinterprets Traditional Indian Design for Modern Living

This is a wonderful, landmark book. Ypma successfully reinterprets traditional Indian design for modern contemporary living. The book provides knowledgeable updates on various Indian craft traditions (sectioned cleanly into distinct chapters)and traces the historical roots from which these traditions have evolved. Perfectly straddles the ancient and the contemporary without stereotyping India. The pictures are great but what really sets this book apart is the accompanying text which is nothing short of illuminating. A great introduction for those interested in Indian design as it is practiced today.