Hidden in Plain Sight
Discovering singapore's vibrant street art scene by Jennifer Williams and Isabelle Tadmoury
Singapore’s Botanic Garden Nothing could be better “hidden in plain sight” than the Center of Ethnobotany within the Botanic Gardens. Tucked away between the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law and the Ethnogarden is a lovely museum dedicated to the study of the relationship between people and plants.
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The Flight of Swans by ENG SIAK LOY in the center of Swan Lake feels like it draws the birds and specifically the swans to the garden.
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A group of six boys playing horseback by CHONG FAH CHEONG is the carefree feeling that we all remember from our youth.
Following in the footsteps of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew England, the botanical garden was set up to study indigenous plants and their properties. It also played a role in the selection of plants for economic purposes such as nutmeg, rubber and latex, which were later exported. The ethnobotany museum looks at the region's indigenous peoples and their rainforests which provide them with a treasure trove of plants useful as medicines, tools, clothes, art and even musical instruments.
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Girl on a Bicycle
Singapore’s Botanic Garden is central to Singapore’s history from the moment Sir Stamford Raffles created it. It is a beautiful, well-maintained 82-hectare green wonderland with sub-divided gardens focused on healing plants, 1000 species of orchids, hundreds of ginger types, lakes, concert areas and playgrounds. It also displays over 40 pieces of public art. We couldn’t capture all of the art in the article but here are our favorites: 28
AWA Magazine March/April 2022
Boys Playing Horseback
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Girl on a Bicycle and Girl on a Swing both by SYDNEY HARPLEY feels like what the gardens should be used for, even though bikes aren’t allowed and there are no swings to be found.
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Fifty Wings by JAMES SURLS which was donated in celebration of Singapore’s 50th anniversary. It’s close to a main point by the clock tower but unless you look for it, we don’t think you’ll find it.
