Awarded with the Silver Medal in the Photography Category of the 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards .*Sacred rituals from all over Asia appear for the first time in book form *An intense look at an Asia hiding in plain sight *Magnificent and inspirational color photography by highly acclaimed photographer *Background information on ceremonies and festivals together with images depicting the ceremonies in detail make the book a valuable source for both lovers and students of Asian culture alike At first sight, Asia's rich and enigmatic culture seems to have fallen victim to the headlong pursuit of material wealth and the onslaught of the fast-food lifestyle. But look more closely and cracks in the glossy veneer of progress are appearing. Fissures reveal the remarkable survival of age-old traditions and customs, in spite of, or perhaps more accurately, precisely as a result of the rising tide of globalization and the resulting cultural alienation. For many people throughout Asia, life's crucial decisions such as marriage, moving to a new city or the purchase of property, are too important to be left to the rational mind alone. There are other, more ethereal, forces at work. Spirits and deities are ubiquitous, their beneficent or malevolent nature can express itself at any time. As a hedge against future uncertainties these spirits need to be placated, worshipped and feted. And should misfortune strike, a healer or shaman navigates the spirit realms in search of a cure. Divine Encounters is a photographic odyssey exploring an Asia hiding in plain sight, resilient and vibrant. For just behind the neon signs, the marble and stainless steel facades, the luxury cars and glitzy shopping malls, lies a different world. A world revealing itself through elaborate spirit rituals, blood-curdling ceremonies and exuberant festivals taking place all over the continent. No book touching upon a subject so rich can ever claim to be exhaustive. What I present here is only a cross-section, covering such stalwart centers of spirit interactions as the forests of Papua New Guinea and the grasslands of Mongolia, but also including densely populated Hong Kong, industrialized Japan and the tropical beach paradise of Phuket in Thailand. "This is a monumental work in every way -- 400 pages packed with provocative images, providing a fascinating and intimate portrayal of some of Asia's most unusual festivals and rituals. " The Nikkei Asian Review "...a 400-page collection of beautiful and sometimes startling images. Kemp's remarkable photos capture not only scenes of frenzy but zoom into the faces of the devout, showing them lost in pain, ecstasy or peaceful communion with their deity. While every shot is bursting with colour and spectacle, the narrative of the events -- detailed by Kemp in the introduction to each ceremony -- take the reader into the myths and history behind the strange and powerful rituals. " The Bangkok Post "The breadth and scope of Hans Kemp's superb photography captures the expansive yet intimate nature of Asia's ancient and thriving spiritual traditions." Arte Wolfe - Renowned photographer of over 100 books and TV host of Art Wolfe's Travels to the Edge "At a time when competitive visions for Asia's future run rampant,ancient beliefs appear to fade away. In the concrete canyons of the region's mega-cities, there is little room for gods and spirits. Or is there? Hans Kemp takes us on an exquisite journey to the far side of faith. Hisepic, exuberant and exciting Divine Encounters provides rare glimpses into the esoteric nooks and crannies of Asia's urban spaces, into the gods that inhabit far-flung jungles and into timeless rituals and ceremonies of local communities determined to maintain a bridge to the past that will help define and safeguard their future." Tom Vater, author of Sacred Skin - Thailand's Spirit Tattoos "In Divine Encounters, acclaimed photographer Hans Kemp turns his lens toward Asia's shamans, priests, temples, shrines, and religious ceremonies. Asia teems with life, color, and emotion and in his large,brilliantly hued images Kemp manages to capture the continent's spiritual vitality, making the invisible as visible as possible for us. A magnificent photographic tribute to Asia's spirituality." Kevin B. Turner, author of Sky Shamans of Mongolia: Meetings with Remarkable Healers "Kemp takes the viewer centre-stage to the drama with terrific photography that somehow manages to get right into the faces--and souls--of the participants. This fly-on-the-wall approach is extremely difficult to pull off, but Kemp gets it right." Michael Buckley, author of Meltdown in Tibet "We live in a time of particular turbulence as economic influences and global culture gain outsized influence over individuals and their communities. Kemp brings these matters to the fore for readers who are sure to spend hours in the vibrant collection of photos." The Kyoto Journal Award-winning Dutch