The Helmut Newton SUMO was a titanic book in every respect: it broke records for weight, dimensions, and resale price. At 35.4 kilos, TASCHEN and Helmut 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. Copies now feature in numerous important collections around the world, including New York's Museum of Modern Art, while legendary SUMO copy number one, autographed by over 100 of the book's featured celebrities, broke the record for the most expensive book published in the 20th century, selling at auction in Berlin on April 6, 2000, for 620,000 German marks - approximately 317,000.
A decade on from its first appearance, the XL SUMO brings this unprecedented publishing venture to an even wider audience with a lighter but no less glamorous format. Carefully revised by June Newton, and with its own presentation bookstand, the book remains a spectacular tribute to the 20th century's most influential, intriguing, and controversial photographer, with hundreds of exquisite images, from his stunning fashion shoots to his shimmering nudes, provocative mise-en-scènes, and celebrity portraits.
About the Author: Helmut Newton (1920-2004) was one of the most influential photographers of all time. Born in Berlin, he arrived in Australia in 1940 and married June Brunell (a.k.a. Alice Springs) eight years later. He first achieved international fame in the 1970's while working principally for French "Vogue," and his celebrity and influence grew over the decades. Newton preferred to shoot in streets or interiors, rather than studios. Controversial scenarios, bold lighting, and striking compositions came to form his signature look. In 1990 he was awarded the Grand Prix National for photography; in 1992 the German government awarded him "Das Grosse ""Verdienstkreuz" for services to German culture, and he was appointed "Officer ""des Arts, Lettres et Sciences" by S.A.S. Princess Caroline of Monaco. In 1996, he was appointed "Commandeur de l'Ordre ""des Arts et des Lettres" by Philippe Douste-Blazy, the French Minister of Culture at the time. Working and living in close companionship with his wife until his death at 83, his images remain as distinctive, seductive and orginal as ever.
