My work explores the thin line between reality and fantasy, creating visual narratives that challenge our perception of the everyday world. Through sculpture and installation, I invite viewers to step into a realm where the mundane collides with the extraordinary.

The "Hand from Nowhere" series, exemplified by the disembodied hand wielding a gun emerging from walls or floors, represents the unexpected intrusion of fantasy into our reality. These sculptures serve as portals, blurring the boundaries between the tangible world and the realm of imagination.

By juxtaposing familiar elements (a hand, a gun) with surreal presentation, I aim to evoke a sense of unease and wonder simultaneously. The pink cloud in one piece adds a layer of whimsy to an otherwise threatening image, further complicating the viewer's emotional response.

My work is not meant to provide clear answers, but rather to spark questions and ignite the audience's own imagination. I seek to remind viewers of the latent magic present in our world – a magic often overlooked in adulthood but vividly alive in childhood fantasies.

Through these pieces, I encourage viewers to reconsider their surroundings, to look for the extraordinary within the ordinary, and to embrace the possibility that reality itself might be more fantastical than we assume. My art serves as a bridge between the concrete and the imaginary, inviting each observer to complete the narrative with their own interpretations and experiences.

Hand from nowhere 

**In "Leave the Space Blank", I explore the intersection of nature and constructed environments, challenging our perceptions of space and our relationship with the natural world. By introducing a vast expanse of fallen leaves into a sterile, white-walled gallery space, I create a jarring juxtaposition that invites viewers to reconsider their understanding of indoor and outdoor realms.**

**The leaves, typically associated with external landscapes, become a tactile, sensory experience within the confines of the gallery. This transformation of space speaks to the artificial boundaries we create between nature and human-made environments. The artwork becomes a living, breathing entity, constantly shifting and changing as visitors interact with it.**

**The presence of people engaging with the leaves - walking, sitting, and playing - adds a performative element to the installation. Their actions blur the lines between artwork and audience, creator and participant. This interaction generates a unique dialogue between the natural elements and the human presence, echoing the complex relationship we have with our environment.**

**By bringing the most natural and commonplace elements - fallen leaves - into a curated exhibition space, I aim to develop a new visual and sensory language. This language contrasts sharply with outdoor experiences, highlighting how context shapes our perception and interaction with nature.**

**"Leave the Space Blank" is not just an installation, but an invitation to reflect on our disconnection from nature in urban spaces, the impermanence of natural cycles, and the potential for reconnection through unexpected encounters with the natural world in artificial sett**

Leave the space blank 

**In this work titled "Wild Treasure," I explore the complex and subtle relationship between humans and nature, as well as how we perceive and assign value to often overlooked elements in our surroundings. By collecting dried brown leaves from the garden and placing them in a transparent plastic bucket, I have created an installation that is thought-provoking both visually and conceptually.**

**The title "Wild Treasure" itself contains an intentional contradiction. "Wild" typically relates to a natural state untouched by human intervention, while "treasure" implies human-assigned value. Through this juxtaposition, I aim to challenge viewers' traditional concepts of value and beauty.**

**The core of this work lies in the process of transformation. Dried leaves, usually viewed as "waste" in yard maintenance, are redefined here as treasures worthy of collection and display. This transformation is not merely a physical relocation but a conceptual elevation, inviting viewers to reconsider our definitions of "useful" and "useless" in nature.**

**The transparent plastic bucket, serving as a container, is not just a practical storage tool but a metaphorical display case. Its transparency allows viewers to observe these "wild treasures" from various angles, much like how we examine our relationship with nature. This mode of display challenges traditional forms of art exhibition, blurring the boundaries between natural objects and man-made artworks.**

**My choice to invite viewers to participate in the collection process is based on a deep understanding of participatory art. Each participant, by adding leaves, becomes a co-creator of the work. This participation not only enriches the material composition of the piece but, more importantly, creates a collective experience and shared environmental awareness. Through this approach, art creation becomes a tool for social activity and environmental education.**

**"Wild Treasure" raises several core questions:**

  
1\. What elements in our daily environment do we overlook or devalue? What potential value and beauty might these elements hide?

  
2\. How can we redefine and appreciate natural objects considered "waste" or "useless"?

  
3\. How can art serve as a catalyst for changing people's perception and attitudes towards the environment?

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**This work is not just a tribute to nature but also a challenge to human perception and value systems. It invites viewers to re-examine our relationship with our surroundings, to consider how we define and cherish "wild treasures." Through this, I hope to awaken a deeper appreciation and sense of responsibility for the natural world, prompting us to rethink our role and impact in this ecosystem.**

**"Wild Treasure" is an evolving process rather than a static finished product. As time passes, the leaves in the container will continue to change, reminding us of the eternal cycles and transformations in nature. This ongoing change also symbolizes the dynamic nature of our relationship with the environment, requiring constant reassessment and adjustment.**

**Through this work, I aim to create a space where viewers can temporarily escape the noise of daily life, reconnect with the natural world around them, and reflect on our understanding of "wild" and "treasure." It is an invitation to view the world around us with new eyes, discovering overlooked beauty and value in everyday life.**

Wild Treasure 

"It's Wet" is a thought-provoking installation strategically placed in the corner of a building's drainage system, challenging viewers' perceptions of urban infrastructure and everyday spaces. This piece blurs the lines between the ordinary and extraordinary, function and art.

In this inconspicuous drainage corner, a vivid green, amorphous shape appears on the ground, creating a striking visual contrast. This abstract "puddle" disrupts the monotony and utility of its surroundings, injecting a touch of surrealism and humor into a typically overlooked space.

The title "It's Wet" is both straightforward and intriguing. It not only describes the visual effect of the work but also cleverly echoes the function of the drainage system while playfully engaging the viewer's imagination.

Through this piece, I explore the contradiction between the invisibility of urban infrastructure and its crucial function. It invites observers to reconsider those urban elements we take for granted, uncovering their poetic and aesthetic possibilities.

"It's Wet" challenges us to pause in our busy urban lives and pay attention to the corners we often ignore. It reminds us that even in the most unassuming, functional spaces, there are opportunities for artistic intervention and imaginative reinterpretation, redefining our relationship with the urban environment.

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Sammy Lai