How can a game offer a solution to the growing sense of insecurity in our society? Antwerp-based artist Samuel Baidoo has developed an autobiographical virtual world as a place of refuge. Wandering and encounters take centre stage, becoming an archaeological process of mourning, healing and play. Awaken the gamer within you and dive into this analogue and virtual journey of discovery from 8 April.
Performance | on 3 and 4 April 2026 at 20:00h
Tentoonstelling | from 8 April to 28 June 2026
VAi in De Singel, Antwerp (BE)
“A digital space for grieving, a game with healing powers.”
Plum Road Tea Dream is a multidisciplinary project by artist Samuel Baidoo (they/them) in collaboration with, amongst others, new media artist Sondi. The project takes various forms: a video game, performance, exhibition and lecture. Baidoo reflects on their experiences as a queer person of colour and transforms their pain, joy and sorrow into game lore. They created the avatar ‘S’, whose memories and safe havens you can visit. Each space becomes a sanctuary, where visitors and players are invited to slow down and wander. Exploring means delving deeper into S’s psyche. Wandering and encountering become an archaeological process of mourning, healing and gaming. Levels, graphic styles and tones shift as you plunge ever deeper into this world, and thereby into yourself.
Plum Road Tea Dream tells the semi-autobiographical story of ‘S’, a young game designer who creates virtual spaces that reflect their own introspective journey. As you investigate their life, you discover the complexity of pain, joy, sorrow, celebration, self-realization and the need for new rituals. Plum Road Tea Dream invites you to slow down. It awakens the urge to face your own thoughts, ask questions and to feel.
Plum Road Tea Dream takes a critical look at video games as a medium for glorifying violence and imperialism. Samuel Baidoo aims to redefine this by focusing on connection, introspection and healing. They utilize video games as a means of connecting to both the individual and society.
“Video game art is relatively unknown in Belgium, but it is carving out a place of its own in the global art world. For example, the Japanese city of Yokohama is building a museum entirely dedicated to video game art.”
Plum Road Tea Dream is what is known as an artistic video game, a genre that is not particularly well known in Flanders, but is no less beloved for that. The art game is primarily designed as an artistic experience. Aesthetics, emotion, meaning and thematic depth are more important than in a traditional game, which focuses primarily on winning, losing or action. It sits at the intersection of traditional art forms (such as painting or film) and interactive media. The creators pride themselves on the fact that their games form part of cultural heritage. And it’s catching on. The proof lies in the many online forums and awards dedicated to this new art form. Even before its release, Plum Road Tea Dream is already a hit. Baidoo’s game has been nominated for the Nuovo Award at the 2026 Independent Games Festival Awards and is also shortlisted for numerous other international gaming accolades. Visitors to the exhibition will gain a sneak preview of the game prior to its release on 27 June 2026.
Samuel Baidoo is a creator, performer and mentor. Throughout their individual journey, they weave autobiographical experiences into a wide range of art forms. Baidoo’s work invariably begins with the intuitive creation of a new archive filled with images, snippets of text, film stills, documentaries, pieces of music or excerpts from series, films, games or manga. Sharing this archive continually reveals new content with which they continue to work. In this way, they associate and connect with the world around them.
Baidoo works from their own studio, but also creates commissioned productions and is one of the artistic directors of the Hanafubuki artists’ collective. In recent years, they have collaborated with Agostina D’Alessandro, Tuur Marinus, tout petit, Michiel Vandevelde and Nikima Jagudajev, amongst others. In addition, Baidoo mentors dance students at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp every year.
Plum Road Tea Dream
From 8 April 2026 to 28 June 2026
DE SINGEL expo
Desguinlei 25, 2018 Antwerp (BE)
Open from Wednesday to Sunday
From 14.00 to 19.00; until 22.00 during evening performances
€5 (Tickets available at vai.be and desingel.be, and at the venue)
€0 (students, under 19s, concessionary rates/Omnio status and ICOM members; tickets available at the venue only)
Samuel Baidoo. Plum Road Tea Dream
On 3 April 2026 and 4 April 2026 at 19.00
DE SINGEL expo
Desguinlei 25, 2018 Antwerp (BE)
standard: €15 | 65+: €14 | 26-35 years: €10.50 | under 26: €7.50
tickets & info op vai.be and desingel.be
> Belgian premiere. Your ticket to the performance also grants you entry to the exhibition.
Organization and production Flanders Architecture Institute (VAi) and DE SINGEL, Hanafubuki vzw & Marie Luyten
Creation Samuel Baidoo
Project Coordinator VAi Hülya Ertas
Production Management VAi Nino Goyvaerts
Production Management DE SINGEL Jessie Bervoets
Production Hanafubuki vzw Myrthe Bokelmann
Technical production coordination Guy Anthoni
Lighting design Ellie Bryce
Coaching Nikima Jagudajev
Set design assistant Hanne Holvoet
Installation and technology Jurgen Fonteijn, Percy Verdonck, Pepijn Willekens
Metalwork Sam Sterk & GATAM
Textiles Marianne Bierboom, Marleen Grauls, Showtex
Translation and editing Patrick Lennon (NL-EN), Stine Sampers (EN-NL), nick von kleist (EN)
Press and Communications Egon Verleye
Public outreach Rosan Meijer
Distribution Good Company
In co-production with Per Podium, C-Takt, De Brakke Grond, De Singel, workspacebrussels, 0090
With the support of Het Bos, Campo, De Studio, STUK, De Grote Post, wpZimmer, STORMOPKOMST, CC Brugge, Sybil Berlin, MORPHO
The VAi is funded by the Flemish Government
The following partners support the VAi programme
Reynaers Aluminium, Forster, Febelcem, wienerberger, Stone, Cosentino, Vola and Vande Moortel
Creative direction Samuel Baidoo
Co-author Fran Vincent
Programming Pepijn Willekens
3D artists Ewout De Vos, Diego Fabri, Jenna Van Wezemael, Nathan Goffin, SONDI, Matthias Willemen, Jira Duguid, Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, Ricardo José Gomes Vieira
2D artists Che Go Eun, Salina De Donder, Sara Lâm
Music Dimitra Sofroniou, MIMI, Tsubasa Hori, Ciska Vanhoyland
Voice-over Samuel Baidoo in collaboration with Ánima O. Cassamajor
Home screen visuals Hussein Shikha
Graphic Design Dani Santander
Coaching Jedidjah Julia Noomen, Esmeralda Hoffman
Video editing Salomon Poutsma, Yannick De Winter
Text editing nick von kleist, Zindzi Tillot Owusu
Business development Marie Villain
Production Myrthe Bokelmann
Produced by Reveal Game Studio
Funded by the Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF)
Dreamers in ‘Dream Garden / Asklepieion’ Ben Baidoo, Nenna Nnamoko, Sara Lâm, Ánima O. Cassamajor, Zindzi Tillot Owusu, Samuel Baidoo, Fran Vincent, Manu Garcia, Che Go Eun, Shamisa Debroey, Dani Santander, Meron Verbelen
Clay tablets ‘New Gods Generator 3000’ Bianca Neyre, Giorgi Urusmadze, Gwen Verlinden, Hanne Holvoet, Kaori Ishiguro, Lola Bogaert, Manu Garcia, Mischiko Salia, Nona Sadey, Samuel Baidoo, Sari Veroustraete, Tamayo Okano, Valeria Secchi, Clais Lemmens Boon, Ingrid Van Samang, Esth Fantuzzi, Yasmin Van der Rauwelaert, Priss Niinikoski, Caroline Dumalin
With thanks to Stine Sampers, Eva Willemen, Dagmar Blommaert, Marleen Grauls, Chris Hanney, Jan Willekens, Marie Umuhoza, Maxim Delaere
communication kit
vai.be
Instagram: @vlaams_architectuurinstituut
#vlaamsarchitectuurinstituut
desingel.be
Instagram: @desingelartscentre
#desingel
#plumroadteadream #samuelbaidoo
Egon Verleye
Press & Communication Officer
Flanders Architecture Institute
T +32 (0)3 242 89 73
E egon.verleye@vai.be
