20 Years of SUMO. The Helmut Newton SUMO in XL, revised by June Newton, with a making-of booklet
The Helmut Newton SUMO was a titanic book that towered above anything previously attempted. Twenty years later, we celebrate the legacy of this publishing venture in an XL edition, the result of a project conceived by Helmut Newton and revised by his wife June. Gathering 464 images and a new booklet that takes us through the making of the SUMO, it’s a spectacular tribute to the larger-than-life photographer.
Helmut Newton (1920–2004) always showed a healthy disdain for the easy or predictable, so it’s no surprise that the SUMO was an irresistible project. The idea of a book the size of a private exhibition, with spectacular images, reproduced to state-of-the-art origination and printing standards, emerged from an open, experimental dialogue between photographer and publisher. With the SUMO weighing in — boxed and shrink-wrapped — at 35.4 kg (just under 80 pounds), Newton created a landmark book that stood head and shoulders above anything previously attempted, both in terms of conceptual extravagance and technical specifications.
Published in an edition of 10,000 signed and numbered copies, the SUMO sold out soon after publication and quickly multiplied its value. It now features in numerous collections around the world, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art. The legendary copy number one, signed by more than 100 of the book’s featured celebrities, broke the record for the most expensive book published in the 20th century, sold at an auction in Berlin on April 6, 2000, for 620,000 German marks — about 317,000 euros.
Now, this XL edition celebrates 20 years of SUMO, the result of a project conceived by Helmut Newton some years ago. Revised by his wife June, the volume gathers 464 images and a new booklet that takes us through the making-of this publishing venture — a spectacular tribute to the larger-than-life Helmut Newton, now in a friendly format.
Images © The Helmut Newton Estate / Maconochie Photography
The photographer
Helmut Newton (1920–2004) was one of the most influential photographers of all time. He first achieved international fame in the 1970s while working principally for French Vogue, and became celebrated for his controversial scenarios, bold lighting, and striking compositions in street or interior settings, rather than studios. His many titles and awards included Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
The editor
June Newton, née Browne, was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1923. As a young woman she was passionately interested in the theater, and worked as an actress under the name June Brunell, receiving the Erik Kuttner Award in 1956. She married the photographer Helmut Newton in Melbourne in 1948 and became a photographer herself in 1970, changing her name once again to Alice Springs. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and publications, including Vanity Fair, Interview, Elle, and Vogue. Her many famous subjects include William S. Burroughs, Catherine Deneuve, Graham Greene, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Mapplethorpe, Yves Saint Laurent, and Nicole Kidman.
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Первое издание книги "Сумо", напечатанное десятитысячным тиражом, было распродано вскоре после выхода из печати. Каждый экземпляр был пронумерован и нес автограф автора. Формат соответствовал названию - 50 х 70 см, что при 464 страничном объеме (389 фотографий) вылилось более чем 35 кг веса. Каждый фолиант комплектовался специальным дизайнерским столиком, от Филиппа Старка.
Неудивительно, что сейчас эти книги, ставшие экспонатами коллекций по всему миру, включая Нью-Йоркский Музей Современного Искусства, многократно возросли в цене, а первая копия, подписанная более чем сотней знаменитостей, получила статус самой дорогой книги ХХ века - 6 апреля 2000 года она была продана на аукционе в Берлине за 620 000 немецких марок - примерно 430 000 американских долларов.
Данное переиздание всего в два раза скромнее размерами, но многократно ценой!
