The second volume of Spaces focuses on the topic of food and looks at the impact of the pandemic on daily life and also centuries-old habits, the movements of migration that continues to shape the cultures of Southeast Asia, as well as the contemporary influences that redefine social norms, spatial relationships and behavior across multiple generations.

Building layer upon layer, criss-crossing contrasted and undefined terrains, this publication attempts to blend the poetry of everyday life with social commentary. As we look beyond the sweetness of traditional desserts, the glossy packaging of instant noodles or the humble structure of a street food vendor stall, each food experience can be viewed as a metaphor, mirroring a culture, an identity or a community going through perpetual change.

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I am very grateful for the external contributions provided by four talented creative collaborators: Zein Alitamara Mufthihati, an illustrator from Kalimantan, Borneo, who contributed a section about the indigenous recipes of the Dayak people, Nicholas Ng, an architect and graphic designer, who wrote 'Kopitiam Conversations' about Kuala Lumpur's old school dining culture, Plamena Slavcheva, an independent filmmaker and storyteller, who wrote 'Hidden Worlds' about a rainforest culinary experience, and Gary Yeow, an architect and podcast host, who supported me extensively throughout the production phase and facilitated an interview with the founders of A Little Farm on the Hill, a farm to table restaurant. 

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'Spaces' gathers visual narratives, interviews and stories about the ways in which spaces are created, experienced and lived in both urban and rural areas in Southeast Asia. The publication introduces physical and symbolic spaces through a range of related topics that include cultural expression, local/global identity, everyday life, natural landscapes and resources. A particular emphasis is made on the flexible adaptation of local cultures in the global era, as well as the creativity of "non-creative" environments.