Back in Ibiza - (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Back in Ibiza 1998 - 2003 is photographer Dean Chalkley's epic collection of club images from the peak of Ibiza's glory days.

Dean Chalkley has been taking compelling cultural photographs since the mid 1990s and his work with the likes of Oasis, Idris Elba and Amy Winehouse is widely celebrated.

At the tail end of the '90s, Chalkley found himself in Ibiza, the capital of the clubbing world. For many, the turn of the millennium represents the peak of club life, when clubbers would lose themselves for days in the often-surreal abandon of their favorite Spanish party haven. Working for Mixmag, the biggest dance-music magazine in the world, Chalkley amassed a vast archive of images from this unrivaled golden era in the island's near-history.
Back in Ibiza 1998 - 2003 offers a thrilling deep-dive through those images, illustrating the unfiltered and sometimes unhinged club scene from a world before Snapchat and TikTok reels. This unique collection is essential viewing for partygoers and clubbing fans, a joy to behold, and a nostalgic reminder of what a real party can look like.

Review Quotes

"The photos come fast and furious, without captions, encouraging the readers to figure it out for themselves -- just as they would have to in real life if this all was happening in front of them."-- "CNN"

"Dean Chalkley amassed a vast archive of images at the turn of the millennium when Ibiza clubbers would lose themselves for days on the Spanish party island. Back In Ibiza 1998-2003 by Dean Chalkley is out on 22 May."-- "The Guardian"

"The photographs in Dean's new book 'Back in Ibiza 1998 - 2003', taken in the heat of many magic moments, capture the golden age of happy, all-in-it-together, 24 hour party people, bacchanalian excess, and sunkissed beach life the island offered before the corporate monsters of superstar DJs, big brands and VIP lounges swallowed it whole."-- "Bureau of Lost Culture podcast"

" ...an intriguing look at what is the relatively recent past, and a great one for nostalgia - especially if you've ever paid a visit to the island yourself for a week of carefree abandon."

-- "Amateur Photographer"

About the Author

Renowned photographer Dean Chalkley has created exciting imagery at the intersection of music, fashion and culture for the past three decades. His affinity and understanding of his subjects and how they sit within the cultural tapestry informs his output. The results are highly stimulating images packed with authenticity and integrity. Fueled by his devotion to music and its potential for self-expression, his work manifests itself in many ways and celebrates a broad range of subjects, including participants in sub-cultures, 'underground' pioneers to popstars and people in the public eye. Through seminal projects, Dean has explored topics including contemporary Mod and Northern Soul scenes as well as 21st-century Rudeboys. Dean continues to be a prolific image maker working mainly with stills photography and occasionally moving image practices. His work appears in publications, brand campaigns and has been exhibited in eminent galleries. In 2024, Dean began a new photographic book project; a dynamic curation of images from the vast archive of photographs he made whilst on assignments in Ibiza between 1998 and 2003. These incredible photographs celebrate a wildly hedonistic moment on the Balearic Island thrusting the reader back into the heart of those truly liberated times.