Modern Alchemy
This project is the result of a unique fusion between photographer Viviane Sassen and philosopher Emanuele Coccia, two key figures in their respective fields. Sassen contributes 80 new photographs that celebrate the natural world, and Coccia supplies an ambitious essay that reassesses the unity of all sentient life. Neither an illustration of text nor a commentary on a series of images, Modern Alchemy situates their two streams of creativity in a dialogue, forging a reverent meditation on art and nature. Gorgeously bound in printed cloth, this meditative photobook invites readers to reenvision the earth’s ever-present beauty.
Viviane Sassen (born 1972) is a Dutch photographer based in Amsterdam who works in both the fashion and fine art worlds. She has photographed campaigns for luxury brands such as Miu Miu, Stella McCartney and Louis Vuitton, and her work has been exhibited at Fotografiska, New York (2017); Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago (2017); and ICA, London (2015). She won the International Center of Photography’s Infinity Award for Applied/Fashion/Advertising Photography in 2011.
Emanuele Coccia (born 1976) is a philosopher of aesthetics, with a focus on the ontological status and normative power of images in fashion and advertising. He is an associate professor at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris and visiting professor at Harvard. Coccia is the author of Metamorphoses (2021), The Life of Plants (2018) and Sensible Life (2016).
Photographs by Viviane Sassen
Text by Emanuele Coccia
7,8 × 10,2 inches
20 × 26 cm
160 pages
Translated from French by Lucas Faugère
Graphic design: Agnès Dahan Studio
Publication date: July 2022
Co-production: JBE Books × Perrier-Jouët
English edition
ISBN: 978-2-36568-063-9
All items available online are able to be viewed and purchased at our store located at 170 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002.
Sold out items are not available for viewing or purchase.
Have a question or inquiry on this item? Send us an email at shop@assemblynewyork.com
Orders typically ship within 1-2 business days. Please allow up to 3 business days during sale or promotions for your order to dispatch. International shipping is offered via UPS and FedEx.
Assembly offers worldwide shipping via UPS and Fedex. Shipping rates are calculated at checkout by the carrier. Assembly is not responsible for shipping delays on international orders.
International customers may be responsible for duties and import taxes on their orders. Some orders may also experience transit delays due to customs. Assembly is not responsible for payment of any duties and cannot offer accurate rates for these additional charges. In addition, we cannot predict any transit delays on international orders.
Assembly is happy to offer in-store pick up from our New York location, 170 Ludlow St. Please specify in the notes section at checkout that you would like to pick your order up in-store and we'll be happy to refund shipping costs. You will be notified via email when your order is ready.
As an option at checkout, we offer a shipping guarantee through ShipAid that ensures your package will be either refunded or reshipped should anything unforeseen occur causing a loss or damage. The cost for this optional guaranty is based on the total value of your purchase and the destination.
Assembly New York is not responsible for uninsured shipments lost, damaged or stolen.
Any questions? Send us an email at shop@assemblynewyork.com
Merchandise in original condition with packaging and tags, is eligible for a return within 10 days of receipt of order. After 10 days, all sales are FINAL. No price adjustments. All sales final on sale merchandise, lingerie, swimwear, books, magazines, electronics, gift certificates, candles and fragrances. All returns must be received within 14 days of return request to be eligible.
Refunds will be issued via the original form of payment. Assembly is not responsible for return shipping charges. Please note that original shipping charges and duties from international orders are non-refundable.
Please email shop@assemblynewyork.com for a Return Authorization. Always include your order number and full name to facilitate a quick response from our support team. We will not accept returns received without a Return Authorization.