Chong Yan Chuah & Simon Soon: Penang’s Histories, Folklore and Futures collide in this playable game

Описание: In conversation with the minds behind “The City of Willows”, a playable game developed by artist Chong Yan Chuah and scholar Simon Soon that is currently on view at Cultprint in George Town, Penang.

The work reimagines the rituals of Chinese secret societies or Triads that flourished in the Malay Archipelago during the 19th century. Rooted in histories of mutual aid and brotherhood among Chinese migrants, the game transforms the traditional Triad initiation ceremony into a cosmological landscape.

Players embark on a mythic journey through dense jungles and Southeast Asian scenes, from durian stalls to Penang’s Kek Lok Si Temple, on a quest for the fabled City of Willows. This destination represents a symbolic sanctuary where belonging and community are embodied. If Triads once offered refuge for migrants, in a dystopian future, the City of Willows might serve as a post-apocalyptic haven.

The City of Willows (2025) was commissioned by Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin. The exhibition is part two of a two-part show, first presented in conjunction with George Town Festival 2025 in August.

Visit The City of Willows exhibition and try out the game at Cultprint:
🗓️ 11th October - 7th December 2025
⏰ Friday - Sunday 12:00PM – 7:00PM
📍35, Lebuh Melayu, 10300 George Town, Penang

(01:55) - How it began
(03:43) - Early sources
(07:31) - Digital shamanism
(08:11) - A playable installation
(09:32) - Triads as brotherhood
(13:11) - Designing initiation
(18:36) - Lessons from Assassin's Creed
(30:42) - An uncle recites the oath
(49:26) - The ethics of play
(1:00:09) - When fear becomes fascination
(1:06:10) - Future identity: Gender-Neutral Avatars