【Book Description】
Limited Edition: https://www.sungoodbooks.com/products/peter-beard-art-editionno251-2500-64902c9cb83aed00018dc843
Peter Beard is a monumental tribute to the legendary photographer, presenting a comprehensive portrait of his multifaceted creative life that spanned photography, collage, diaries, and wildlife conservation. More than just a photo book, it is a visual and intellectual museum, preserving Beard’s lifelong passion for the wild, his profound reflections on the impermanence of life, and his unflinching critique of the clash between civilization and nature.
From a young age, Beard began documenting his life through illustrated diaries that gradually evolved into a unique and compelling form of art. His life intersected with many of the 20th century’s most iconic cultural and artistic figures—he was painted by Francis Bacon, had his works drawn on by Salvador Dalí, collaborated on diaries with Andy Warhol, traveled through Africa with Truman Capote and the Rolling Stones, and published books with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Mick Jagger. Beard was more than a photographer—he was a witness to both his time and the natural world.
In the early 1960s, inspired by the writings of Out of Africa author Karen Blixen, Beard moved to Kenya and eventually became friends with Blixen herself. There, on African soil, he witnessed firsthand the fragile state of nature under the pressures of colonial legacies and modern development. One of his most haunting experiences was the mass starvation of elephants in Tsavo National Park, a devastating result of environmental degradation. Refusing to turn away, Beard documented these tragedies through photographs, collages, and handwritten—or sometimes blood-written—notes, creating an intense and raw visual language composed of text, imagery, and at times, animal remains and organic matter.
Published by TASCHEN with the highest production standards, this two-volume edition of Peter Beard collects his most iconic diary pages and collages, presented in high-resolution to reveal every detail—his expressive handwriting, masterful drawings, and visceral mixed-media compositions.
Volume I features nearly 500 pages, including diary entries and collage works, with an introduction by photo critic Owen Edwards and two new collages completed in 2007.
Volume II serves as a comprehensive image index and reference guide, offering detailed captions, early personal photographs, an in-depth interview with the artist by Steven M. L. Aronson, and a rare facsimile of Beard’s handwritten essay originally published in the debut issue of Blind Spot magazine in 1993. It also includes a full bibliography, filmography, and exhibition history.
First published in 2006 as a limited Collector’s Edition by TASCHEN, the book quickly sold out and became a coveted item among collectors. Now reissued at a more accessible price, this definitive volume allows a wider audience to experience Peter Beard’s wild, poetic, brutal, and deeply human artistic universe. The text is presented in English, French, and Spanish.
【Book Details】
Author: Peter Beard
Publisher: TASCHEN
Dimensions: 33 × 23 cm
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 784 pages
