Written by: Tang Kai Xian

With the long holidays, you can spend a day exploring our iconic Gardens by the Bay. The famed Flower and Cloud Forest dome coupled with the Supertrees are located in Bay South. Did you know that the Flower Dome holds the Guiness World Record for the largest glass greenhouse in the world?

The Flower Dome replicates the cool-dry climate of the Mediterranean and hosts seasonal flower showcases. The Cloud Forest Dome recreates a cool-moist climate like that in tropical montane regions. The Supertrees are steel-framed concrete structures covered with nearly 163,000 plants of more than 200 species and varieties, including bromeliads, orchids and tropical flowering climbers.

Gardens by the Bay comprises 3 public gardens (Bay South, Bay East, Bay Central) in Marina Bay, spanning a total land area of 101 ha. It was conferred the World Building of the Year Award at the prestigious World Architecture Festival in October 2012, among other architectural prizes.

Gardens have long been associated with a place of rest and beauty while public art stimulates learning and thought about the interconnectedness between art and society. Often, it leads us towards self-reflection and awareness. Nested in these gardens are 12 outdoor art sculptures worth checking out.  

1. Perpetual Bloom, Serene Garden

This art piece was created by Ms Han Sai Por, one of Asia’s leading modern sculptors and Singapore’s Cultural Medallion recipient. 

Perpetual Bloom is a collection of 12 stainless steel sculptures representing the state of unending blossoming of flowers at Gardens by the Bay. The highly polished stainless steel of each piece reflects the tranquil colours of the sky and the lush surroundings of Serene Garden. Among the blooms, there are 2 dragonflies. They portray the harmony of flora and fauna in the gardens. Dragonflies are also indicators of clean water in a healthy ecosystem, symbolising sustainability which is the cornerstone of Gardens by the Bay.

2. Trash-sure, SG 50 Lattice

This art piece was created by Artur Bordalo and is presented by UBS and other partners. Artur Bordalo is a portuguese activist artist who specialises in trash art. His work currently revolves around materialism and societal greed. He is concerned that overproduction of goods is leading to the destruction of earth. 

The sculpture portrays a Sumatran tiger. This shines light on this critically endangered species caused by persistent deforestation and uncontrolled poaching. 

This installation is part of the trash-sure campaign and hopes to raise awareness of the scarcity of the earth’s natural resources as well as to persuade consumers to make more environmentally sustainable lifestyle choices.

3. Planet, near the Meadow

Marc Quinn is a leading contemporary British Artist. Mark’s work revolves around our place in the world; relationships, beauty, etc. 

This large-scale bronze sculpture is based on an earlier work titled ‘Innoscience’. ‘Innoscience’ is a sculptural portrait of the artist’s 7 months-old first-born son soon after he was diagnosed with a severe milk allergy. 

‘Planet’ is a paradox. It is huge and heavy, yet the bronze appears weightless. It is both a reflection of ourselves and the earth upon which we live.

4. Moongate, Active Garden

Like Ms Han Sai Por, Chong Fah Cheong is also a leading modern sculptor and Singapore’s Cultural Medallion recipient. Fah Cheong was inspired by moongates from memories of his youth where hiking trails would begin from a Chinese circular portal. The passage through any doorway signifies the transition of place and time. We pass through a ‘moongate’ when we start and end journeys in life. 

The uniquely textured inner surface references the phenomena of our constantly changing natural world, from shifting sands to changing cloud formations. The circular ring represents the community spirit, connectedness and continuity; what it means to be Singaporean. 

The sculpture serves a more subtle purpose too. It marks the spot of the SG50 Time Capsule? This was an initiative in celebration of Singapore’s 50th birthday. Through popularity votes from the people, 50 items including 1970s POSB collaterals were chosen. The capsule is due to be opened in 2065. At the time of writing this article there is still 43 years to go.

5. The Seashell, Waterfront 

Manolo Valdés is an internationally established Spanish painter, sculptor and draughtsman. His works are exhibited in major cities and renowned art institutions, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 

The Seashell is 355 x 260 x 240 cm. It is made of Molten Bronze and Iron Plinth.  

6. Fiore, Opposite Planet sculpture

Another work by Manolo Valdés. This piece features a headdress of flora and fauna. It is made in a naturally occurring rust-coloured patina of the steel representing the artist’s relationship between nature and culture. 

7. Floral Clock, Beside The Canopy

A gift from Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet to Singapore in celebration of Singapore’s 50th birthday, the Floral Clock is modelled after Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch collection. It fuses timekeeping with botanical artistry. The face of the clock features tropical plants with coloured foliage that will be replenished regularly. It is Singapore’s only sizable public floral clock. 

8. Magnificent bull, Golden Garden

Walter Matia is an acclaimed American Sculptor. He primarily crafts animal sculptures made of bronze.

The bull depicts the strength and vigour of Singapore’s bullish economy. A bullish economy represents the optimism among economists for positive economic developments in Singapore.

9. Dragonfly Riders, Dragonfly Lake

A sculpture by Dr Elsie Yu. It is reminiscent of childhood bliss. The sculpture is made of 2 children riding on the back of a pair of dragonflies. 

10. Trio of Kingfishers, Kingfisher Lake

Eng Siak Loy is a famous local artist and the only Singaporean to have designed an entire series of our currency notes. 

As its name suggests, it comprises 2 kingfisher sculptures in a perching stance and the last in a flight position. Their metallic feathers catch the changing light on the lake surface. Sightings of the Collared Kingfisher, White-Throated Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher and the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher have been recorded here. 

11. Diaspora, Heritage Gardens (Chinese Gardens)

Diaspora or li xiang (离乡), which means “to leave one’s native place”. The first piece with a hollow centre is placed in front of a pond that represents the ocean. The second cut-out of a human figure is placed closer to the Malay Garden. This pays tribute towards the early Chinese immigrants who travelled to Singapore in search of a better life. 

12. Guardian Lions, Supertree Grove

Created by Chinese Sculptor Wang Rong Hai, 2 pairs of Guardian Lions at both ends of the Supertree Grove are examples of traditional Chinese sculptures. Chinese guardian lions are always presented in pairs. The male (on the right) playing with a ball that symbolises power on its right paw. The female (on the left) keeps a cub under her left paw whereby a cub represents the cycle of life. In Chinese Taoist beliefs, the paired lions represent the contrasting elements of the “way”. “Yin” is portrayed by the female lion while the male lion depicts “Yang”. While the male lion guards the entrance, the female lion protects the interior of the dwelling.

The 12 sculptures listed above represent a fraction of the art at Gardens by the Bay. There are indoor sculptures within the 2 iconic domes as well. From the aforementioned sculptures above, some are commemorative, some serve an advocacy purpose, some are tied to our culture while others are reflective about the relationship between us and the external environment we live in. Gardens by the Bay is not all flora and fauna, it serves as the ground for accessible, public art made by renowned artists. So snap a pic or two with those art next time you find yourself at Gardens by the Bay!

References:

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2012-06-26_095923.html

https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/things-to-do/attractions/art-sculptures.html

https://fahcheong.com/tag/moongate/

https://www.watchcollectinglifestyle.com/home/experience-the-audemars-piguet-floral-clock-at-singapores-gardens-by-the-bay-celebrating-singapores-50th-year-of-independece

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/meet-man-who-designed-spores-longest-running-currency-series