Shangri La: The Book of Skin

Shangri La: The Book of Skin by Melody Melamed, 2024 *written about in HUCK Magazine “When we speak about euphoria, what do we seek? A sensation? A feeling in the body, in the mind? Perhaps both. How does our identity define our sense of euphoria, and what do our bodies, our skins tell us about who we are and how strong we stand within ourselves? The skin and its body are akin to the eyes of the soul; and what if we considered the vast, awe inspiring nature that subtly mimics and mirrors the relationships between our bodies, our skins and itself? What can this nature teach us about ourselves, our identities, our nature– are we not just the same? Our queer bodies mimic and mirror natures perfectionism as a reminder to us: we are connected to and come from its core. Within natures ever evolving euphoria, we are called up to find our own…” Born and raised in Los Angeles, Melody Melamed received her BFA from UCLA in 2008, with a concentration in Design and Media Arts, followed by an MFA in Photography, Video and Related Media in 2013, at SVA, New York City. As a photographer, Melamed has dedicated her time to exploring the perception of gender identity, sexuality, the duality of masculinity vs. femininity, and what the body cannot tell about the expression of gender and gender identity Editor - Kris Graves Design - Luminosity Lab 7 x 8.5" softcover, 4-color offset 64 pages First Edition Limited edition to 400 copies ISBN: 9781954877153 * This book is part of our series LOST IV, which includes: Anthem by Oji Haynes Black Snafu by Andre Ramos-Woodard Blood on the Ballast by Marshall Scheuttle Breathless by Richard Renaldi El Inquilino Mexico City by Tom Griggs Los Angeles Without Boundaries by Peter Baker Monument by Yoav Horesh People of the Sun by Melissa Alcena Shangri La by Melody Melamed Tell Me About Saigon by Tracy Dong COLLECTIONS Amon Carter Museum of Art Arcadia University Bard College Cleveland Museum of Art Coastal Carolina University Harvard University Metropolitan Museum of Art Museum of Modern Art Pratt Institute Rhode Island School of Design Stanford University National Gallery of Art