Books

Assouline Celebrates Saudi National Day!

Assouline Spring 2022 - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Collection

Courtesy of Assouline

From serene desert expanses to coastal regions teeming with flora and fauna, the many wonders of Saudia Arabia are explored in our latest collection. This six-book series features original works by premier photographers and artists. Each volume uncovers a unique treasure of the Kingdom, whether an ancient city or historic tribe. All six titles are also available in exclusive Special Edition formats.

Flower Men | Courtesy of Assouline, assouline.com

Flower Men: On the high plateau of the Asir Province, the most mountainous region of Saudi Arabia, one of the greatest and best-kept secrets of Arab civilization lay hidden for centuries: the tribe of the Flower Men, so dubbed because it was their custom to wear garlands of flowers and leaves in their hair. This book honors the tribe’s past and present.

Photography by Laziz Hamani, Ibrahim Sarhan, and Ziyad Alarfaj capture this vibrant heritage. Writer and editor Bruno Doucey co-founded Editions Bruno Doucey in 2010, a publishing house dedicated to poetry. Doucey has written numerous nonfiction books, novels, collections of poems, anthologies and essays, including Le Livre des déserts: Itinéraires scientifiques, littéraires et spirituels (2006).

Flower Men

Text by Bruno Doucey, photography by Laziz Hamani, Ibrahim Sarhan, Ziyad Alarfaj

Special Edition: 10 x 13 in – 25 x 33 cm | 224 pages | over 150 illustrations | limited-edition hardcover in a hand-painted wooden slipcase ISBN: 9781649800879 | TBD

Jeddah Al-Balad | Courtesy of Assouline, assouline.com

Jeddah Al-Balad: As a gateway for pilgrimages to the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and with a prime location along the coast of the Red Sea, Jeddah, a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site, has grown to become the second-largest city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With origins dating to the first millennium, Jeddah Al-Balad, the historic center, has blossomed into a modern metropolis that boasts a valuable architectural heritage and a vibrant art scene. This book includes original photography that brings Jeddah’s vibrant cityscape to life.

James Parry writes on the art, history and cultural heritage of the Middle East. He has worked extensively across the Arabian Peninsula, including in Jeddah. Photographer Matthieu Salvaing has shot for many distinguished luxury brands and publications over the course of his career. He collaborated with architect Oscar Niemeyer for twenty years. Salvaing specializes in the photography of contemporary architecture and design.

Jeddah Al-Balad

Text by James Parry, photography by Matthieu Salvaing

Special Edition: 30 x 40 in – 76 x 101 cm | 148 pages | over 100 illustrations | handcrafted edition in a wooden crate with easel

ISBN: 9781649800503 | TBD

Red Sea: The Saudi Coast | Courtesy of Assouline, assouline.com

Red Sea: The Saudi Coast: Bordering the coastlines of eight countries, the Red Sea is a melting pot of civilizations, faiths and hopes. With unique coral reefs and diverse underwater life, the untouched nature and unmatched biodiversity thrive in the aquatic environment and have led to the creation of several preservation initiatives. As the setting of many epic journeys in literature, the Red Sea is imbued with a spirit of adventure.

Photography by Aline Coquelle, Ameen Qaisaran and Afnan Alkhayat, Mohammed Al Sharif, and Yarob Bashrahil.

Red Sea: The Saudi Coast

Text by Christopher Smith, photography by Aline Coquelle, Qaisaran Studio, Mohammed AlSharif, Yarob Bashrahil

Petroleum Art | Courtesy of Assouline, assouline.com

Petroleum Art: Petroleum has played an integral role in transforming Saudi Arabia into one of the most influential nations in the world, and has dominated almost all dimensions of human activity. Petroleum Art is a testament to how vital oil is to our modern existence. With photography by Jeanette Hägglund and Saleh Ahmed Alhuthloul, this volume takes the reader on a tour of Saudi Arabia’s impressive facilities and their compelling architecture.

Bader Al Samari’s writing credits include several nonfiction books, novels and a screenplay.

Jeanette Hägglund is a Swedish photographer and artist, and has worked with many leading companies in branding and advertising. She is also widely recognized for her creative renderings of buildings, towers and other structures, combining her keen sense for geometrical shapes, color and light to create the unexpected.

Petroleum Art

Introduction by Bader Al Samari, photography by Jeanette Hägglund, Saleh Ahmed Alhuthloul

Regular Edition: 16 x 19 in – 40.5 x 48 cm | 200 pages | over 100 illustrations | handcrafted volume in a luxury clamshell case

ISBN: 9781649800749 | $895 – €820 – £695

Al-Ahsa Oasis | Courtesy of Assouline, assouline.com

Al-Ahsa Oasis: The largest oasis on the planet, Al-Ahsa covers an area of over 8,500 hectares on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the landscape consists of sweeping sand dunes, groves of date palms and meandering natural springs. The Al-Ahsa region represents a remarkable relationship between natural and cultural heritage.

Azedine Beschaouch is a historian and archaeologist and has held various positions related to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. He is a member of the Tunisian Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts, and an Officer of the Legion of Honor of France. Parisian photographer Aline Coquelle contributes to prestigious international publications, and shootsmarketing campaigns for various luxury brands. Her other books with Assouline are Palm Springs Style (2005); The Cartier Polo Games (2006); Polo: The Nomadic Tribe (2009); The Italian Dream: Wine, Heritage, Soul (2016); Be Extraordinary: The Spirit of Bentley (2017); Zanzibar (2020); and Polo Heritage (2021). Rafael Alterio is an Argentinean artist who specializes in painting, engraving and illustrating. He is the co-founder of Atelier Bergere, an art gallery in Paris.

Al-Ahsa Oasis

Text by Azedine Beschaouch, photography by Aline Coquelle, artwork by Rafael Alterio

Regular Edition: 11 x 14 in – 28 x 35.5 cm | 200 pages | over 150 illustrations | hardcover in a luxury slipcase | ISBN: 9781649800923

$195 – €195 – £150

The Mysterious Desert of the Empty Quarter | Courtesy of Assouline, assouline.com

Empty Quarter: The Empty Quarter known in the Arabic-speaking world as the Ar-Rub Al-Khali, is located on the Arabian Peninsula and is one of the most arid regions on the planet. The Empty Quarter stretches over twelve hundred kilometers from west to east, and is up to six hundred kilometers wide. The desert that unfolds is a silent expanse and extraordinarily diverse. Original drawings appear alongside photography by Sayaf Alshahrani and Ibrahim Sarhan capturing the immensity and profound nature of the distinct landscape.

Writer and editor Bruno Doucey co-founded Editions Bruno Doucey in 2010, a publishing house dedicated to poetry. Doucey has written numerous nonfiction books, novels, collections of poems, anthologies and essays, including Le Livre des déserts: Itinéraires scientifiques, littéraires et spirituels (2006). Ruben Alterio is an Argentinean artist known for his large-scale abstract paintings. His work spans a range of genres and forms of artistic expression.

Empty Quarter

Text by Bruno Doucey, artwork by Ruben Alterio, photography by Sayaf Alshahrani and Ibrahim Sarhan

Special Edition: 13 x 17 in – 33 x 42 cm | 160 pages | over 80 illustrations | hardcover volume in a wooden slipcase

ISBN: 9781649800916 | TBD