Hidden in Plain Sight

By Jennifer Williams and Isabelle Tadmoury

Top photo: Isabelle with the Mystery Sculpture

Discovering Singapore's Vibrant Street Art Scene

Artist Spotlight: Dale Chihuly

With borders closed and the world on hold, it’s rare to see an international artist’s mega-show in person. “Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom” is the American blown-glass sculpture artist’s first major garden show in Asia. This show’s a treat for the senses and a true artistic coup for Singapore.

Chihuly’s last major outdoor exhibit at the New York Botanical Gardens was closed due to the pandemic. That makes this show even more distinctive because there’s nowhere else in the world to see it. The largescale installations are beautifully set among the various corners, meadows and ponds of Gardens by the Bay. As you walk along the path, the colors of his impressive sculptures peek out through the foliage and explode into splendor as you near them.

Orange Hornet Chandelier

Among the over 100 pieces are examples of his early work of curvy towers and chandeliers developed while he pioneered a world-class glass program at the Rhode Island School of Design. He taught at the school for over 11 years and forged a new frontier for working with glass.

Erbium Reeds and Trumpet Flowers

Some of his later work is on display in the Cloud Forest Dome. The ‘Persians’ are a series of flower petals that cascade dramatically from the indoor waterfall there. This was Jen’s and my favorite moment, and it took our breath away.

The dynamic play of light on glass and its reflection of various colors onto the water were impressive. The top of the dome has plant-like spikes that reflect into the water. Walla Wallas, floating onion-like pieces, dot the outdoor waterways. Wherever we turned, we met a feast for the eyes.

While tickets are required to access the complete exhibit, several pieces are displayed as public art, free for all to enjoy. You’ll easily find the Float Boat and the Walla Wallas as you wander. Explore a little further into the Gardens to find the Mystery Sculpture floating serenely on its private pond.

Float boat and floats

Even after the exhibit closes at Gardens by the Bay in August, Chihuly’s artwork will be on display at the aptly-named Chihuly Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and scattered throughout Resorts World Sentosa. A gorgeous Chihuly tower occupies the center of the casino’s playing floor and Chihuly chandeliers hang from the lobby of the Crockfords Tower. It almost seems as if this exceptional artist has designed his pieces especially for Singapore.

The exhibit runs from May 1st to August 1st at The Gardens by the Bay.

“Art will exist for as long as humans walk the earth. Whether it is a painting, a sculpture, a song, book, or movie, art inspires and heals. Artists are driven to express themselves, and if we are lucky, the work finds the right audience at the right time.” - Dale Chihuly (The Observer, 6/26/2020)

Isabelle and Jennifer share a love of art, good coffee and exploring Singapore. Both came here in 2019 and are always on the lookout for the next great statue or mural that is just around the corner.

Jennifer Williams and Isabelle Tadmoury