Island of the Spirits by John Stanmeyer

Ghosts hover everywhere on Bali. At least that is what the inhabitants of this Indonesian island believe, who see their lives as connected with an ‘other world.’ Balinese spiritual culture, a mixture of Hinduism and animism, was one of the last in the world to have developed in all isolation.

Because of that, centuries-old ceremonies and rituals survive down to this day. Internationally acclaimed and VII Photo agency co-founder, John Stanmeyer, spent five years creating this reportage whilst using a camera known as a Holga. His photographs appear to have been made decades ago, stressing the historicity of the spiritual culture on Bali in deeply-layered ways never seen on Balinese culture.  

Regular Retail Edition

  • Hardcover
  • Size 28 × 28 cm
  • 144 pages, 65 duotone black&white images printed on fine matte paper
  • Weight 2 kg
  • Prices: Rp 550,000 (Indonesia excl. shipment), USD 169 (International incl. shipment)

Limited Collectors Edition

  • Only 150 copies worldwide
  • Clothbound hardcover with special tipped-in transparency film
  • Exclusively packaged in a laser engraved clamshell box
  • Including one signed, numbered and enveloped photoprint on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag paper
  • Size 28 × 28 cm
  • 144 pages, 65 duotone black&white images printed on Garda Pat 13 Kiara White paper
  • Weight 4 kg
  • Prices: Rp 5,500,000 (Indonesia excl. shipment), USD 699 (International incl. shipment)

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About John Stanmeyer 

Born in Illinois in 1964, John Stanmeyer is a founding member of the VII photo agency. Living in the Far East for over twelve years, Stanmeyer has witnessed throughout that time nearly every major historical event in Asia, photographing the rapid changes taking place throughout the entire region. Working globally, he has focused on the plight of refugees from the Ugandan civil war, spent months chronicling the effects of the 2004 Tsunami and documented the mental healthcare crises in Asia.  

Prior to moving to Hong Kong in 1996, Stanmeyer covered the conflict in South Sudan, Eastern European social change after the fall of Communism, as well as numerous visits to Haiti to record the endless social tragedies plaguing the island nation.

For over eight years, he has documented the spread of HIV/AIDS through every country in Asia.  

Stanmeyer focus is on social injustices, eradication of global poverty, human rights and raising awareness for the sustaining vanishing cultures.

On contract with Time Magazine since 1998 and working regularly for National Geographic Magazine and other global publications, Stanmeyer has been the recipient of numerous honors including the prestigious Robert Capa award, named Magazine Photographer of the Year, awarded numerous World Press, Picture of the Year and NPPA awards and in 2008 received the National Magazine Award for this in-depth essay on the global Malaria epidemic.

He has been exhibited at the International Center of Photography in New York, the La Louvre and Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, Scavi Scaligieri in Verona, WAR Museum in Dubrovnik, the Triennale in Milan, Noorderlicht in the Netherlands, the United Nations in NY, four exhibitions at Pour Visa l’Image in Perpignan, France and numerous other locations.

He has recently moved back to the United States from Indonesia and lives with this wife, Anastasia, and their three children on a farm in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.  

About Afterhours Books

Books open our minds to the world. Since 1995, Afterhours Books has completed many interesting and international award-winning graphic design and premium illustrated books. We aim to bring Indonesian arts, culture, wisdom and natural resources to the world stage and to creatively contribute to positive sociocultural change.  

Afterhours Books Jalan Merpati 45, Menteng Dalam Jakarta 12870, Indonesia Tel +62 21 830 6819 Fax +62 21 829 0612  

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