Author: Julian Davison & Bruce Granquist, 1999. 32pgs. (English). Hardcover
Publisher: Periplus, Singapore
The booklet serves as a concise, illustrated introduction to the island’s natural history. Granquist’s watercolor illustrations animate the flora and fauna with remarkable precision, capturing morphological traits that are essential for ecological identification. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, the images highlight functional adaptations—beak shapes, leaf structures, or camouflage patterns—that reveal how species are integrated into specific ecological niches. The narrative underscores ecological interdependence: pollinators and flowering plants are depicted in tandem, coastal birds are shown in relation to tidal zones, and endemic species are contextualized within microhabitats shaped by soil composition and climatic gradients. Such visual pairings implicitly convey principles of community ecology, trophic interactions, and habitat specialization, offering readers an accessible entry point into ecological systems thinking. At approximately thirty‑two pages, the work is best understood not as a comprehensive field guide but as an interpretive synthesis. Its scientific contribution lies in the way it translates ecological complexity into visual pedagogy—encouraging readers to perceive biodiversity as a dynamic network of interrelations rather than a static catalogue of species. In this respect, the booklet bridges art and ecology, fostering ecological literacy while remaining approachable to non‑specialist audiences.
Author: Michael Tenzer, 2011. 191pgs. (English), Softcover. CD ROM included
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing, Singapore
This volume offers a lucid and concise introduction to the percussion orchestras of Bali, situating their sonic traditions within broader frameworks of village life, ritual practice, and artistic heritage. Far from a superficial overview, it provides readers—whether students of ethnomusicology or culturally curious travelers—with an informed and perceptive lens into the island’s musical culture. The text delineates the construction and acoustic properties of bronze-keyed metallophones and gongs, explicating the physical principles by which resonant timbres are produced. It highlights the distinctive aesthetic of Balinese gamelan—characterized by rapid tempos, dynamic contrasts, and layered polyrhythms—while also foregrounding the lived experiences of local musicians whose artistry animates these ensembles. Importantly, the book underscores the embeddedness of gamelan within temple ceremonies and communal events. Music is not presented as an isolated art form but as a ritual technology, integral to the cyclical rhythms of Balinese Hindu cosmology. Through narrative vignettes and ethnographic detail, the volume demonstrates how gamelan functions simultaneously as a medium of aesthetic expression, a vehicle of spiritual devotion, and a marker of collective identity. By weaving together technical exposition, historical contextualization, and ethnographic storytelling, the work succeeds in balancing accessibility with scholarly rigor. It thus serves as both a practical guide for newcomers and a valuable cultural document for those seeking deeper engagement with the ritual and social dimensions of Balinese musical life.
Author: William Warren, 1995. 190pgs. (English) Hardcover
Publisher: Periplus editions, Singapore
This volume constitutes a visually striking and intellectually engaging exploration of Bali’s botanical landscapes. It masterfully illustrates the symbiosis between human artistry and volcanic nature, manifested through sacred springs, stone sculptures, and luxuriant tropical flora. William Warren inaugurates the narrative by examining Bali’s volcanic origins and tracing how artists, writers, and travelers have perceived the island across the past century. Contributions from local specialists elucidate the island’s geography, climatic variations, and native plant life—from delicate orchids to resilient mountain flora—while situating botany within the framework of Balinese Hindu philosophy and the ritual practice of daily offerings. The text juxtaposes ancient temple and palace grounds with contemporary private villas, luxury resort gardens, and rural hillside retreats, thereby revealing the evolving aesthetics of landscape design. The photography transcends conventional tourist imagery, capturing instead the nuanced interplay of architectural planting, water features, and the modulation of light. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the work provides genuine inspiration for tropical landscapers. Yet, it functions less as a practical manual for temperate-climate gardeners than as a cultural showcase and coffee-table compendium, offering a panoramic overview of Bali’s horticultural heritage and its enduring spiritual resonance.
Author: J. Warren & photographer Luca Invernizzi Tettoni, 1995. 175pgs (English) Hardcover
Publisher: Periplus, Singapore.
This volume constitutes a visually compelling and culturally resonant exploration of Bali’s tropical landscapes. It deftly bridges traditional animistic ecological perspectives with the aesthetics of modern resort architecture and private garden design. The narrative foregrounds Bali’s natural geography—its volcanic origins, climatic variability, and geomorphological features—while emphasizing the profound cultural and spiritual reverence for nature that informs village planning and temple configurations. Beyond sacred topographies, the book examines private residences, luxury resort grounds, and contemporary public spaces, highlighting aquatic features, stone sculptures, and luxuriant flora. More than 300 vivid photographs document exotic flowers, sacred springs, and meticulously composed tropical environments, thereby transcending superficial design catalogues to provide substantive cultural and ecological context. Contributions from regional specialists integrate botanical and ecological data, enriching the text as a reference source for both scholars and practitioners. Certain property highlights reflect the distinctive resort aesthetics of the 1990s—some of which have since evolved or ceased to exist—thus positioning portions of the work as historical documentation rather than current exemplars. As such, the volume functions simultaneously as a cultural archive and a design compendium. It is essential reading for landscape architects, tropical horticulturalists, and all those inspired by the enduring aesthetics of Balinese ecological design.
Author: Judy Slattum (text) & Paul Schraub (photography), 2003. 128pgs. (English), Hardcover
Publisher: Periplus, Singapore
Balinese Masks constitutes a visually arresting and culturally profound exploration of the sacred masks employed in Balinese ritual drama. The photographs capture with remarkable acuity the intricate craftsmanship, tactile textures, and minute details of these masks—many of which are consecrated objects rarely accessible to the public gaze. The author elucidates that Balinese masks are not mere theatrical props or ornamental spectacles; rather, they are regarded as living entities, animated by invisible spiritual forces and integrated as active members of village communities during temple ceremonies. Their presence mediates between the human and divine realms, embodying ancestral guardianship and cosmological balance. By bridging the disciplines of art history and anthropology, the book demonstrates how mask‑making, religious symbolism, and traditional dance coalesce to sustain Bali’s ancient theatrical heritage. The narrative situates masks within a continuum of material culture and ritual practice, underscoring their dual identity as both aesthetic artifacts and ritual agents. In doing so, the work affirms the enduring vitality of Balinese performance traditions as vehicles of spiritual embodiment and cultural continuity.
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