Living Large

Hidden behind imposing gates and demure concierges, forecourts and VIP express elevators, the living spaces of the ultra-wealthy resist our gaze. At the same time, these splashy pads form the basis of a cottage industry, with countless novels, magazines, and films and TV series offering privileged look-ins. Can such works balance admiration of the wealthy and honest assessment of these spaces of luxury? How innocent is our consumption of the lifestyles of the mega-rich when systemic inequities are rife throughout society? Two books of photography join the fray and shed some light on these very questions.

The Lives of Others, a collection of sumptuous photographs by Simon Watson, presents a smattering of the venerable homes he has documented over his thirty-year career. Bolstered by contributions from Marella Caracciolo Chia, Tom Delavan, and James Reginato, the book coalesce…