Marking the conclusion of the pilot SAM Residency programme, Present Realms is a fluid project space for the mushrooming of ideas, works-in-progress, and lines of research. Hinging upon themes of intimacy and infrastructure, the three pilot Residents—Chu Hao Pei, Salty Xi Jie Ng, and Johann Yamin—present their continued explorations into varied topics of interest spanning rice, rituals, and gaming. These commingling practices invoke portals towards other realms—a glimpse at methods, visualities, and beliefs present in contemporary worlds both familiar and distant.

Present Realms reflects the shared and interactive working environment that defines SAM Residencies. As a joint presentation, it extends the exchanges the Residents had during their time in residence and as a space invites visitors to participate in developing the Residents’ research.

Courtesy of the artist: Xi Jie