HazelDiary

People in Singapore can interact with the installation to send dandelion fluffs floating virtually to locations in Japan to bloom into flowers, and vice versa – evoking connectivity in difficult times. Available from today until November 15, Gardens by the Bay’s Supertree Grove plays host to Dandelion, an interactive installation that allows people in Singapore and Japan to interact with each other via dandelion fluffs.

Credit:NAKED, INC

When someone in Singapore “blows” at the dandelion of the installation, dandelion fluffs will travel virtually to Dandelion installations in Japan and bloom into peonies there. In the same way, dandelion fluffs from Japan will bloom into sakuras in Singapore when someone in Japan “blows” at the Dandelion installation there. Launched simultaneously in Singapore and Japan today, Dandelion is a way for people to connect with each other during the pandemic, when international borders are closed to the majority of travellers.

Credit:NAKED, INC

Dandelion is a collaboration between Gardens by the Bay and Tokyo-based creative company NAKED, as part of the latter’s Breath / Bless Project. Breath / Bless is conceptualised by the founder of NAKED, the artist Ryotaro Muramatsu, as an expression of peace in difficult times, and a collective monument of mankind’s solidarity and unity with one another. It is particularly poignant now as people across the world cope with a global pandemic. This is the first time Mr Muramatsu is presenting a work that connects across international borders in real time.

Credit:NAKED, INC

Dandelion in Singapore is a 2m-tall dandelion structure set against the spectacular backdrop of the Supertrees. People scan a QR code and point their smartphones at the dandelion structure to “blow” at it, which will trigger floating dandelion fluffs that appear via projection on the ground and “bloom” as peonies in the Dandelion installations in Tokyo Tower and Shibuya’s Miyashita Park. Whenever sakura spontaneously bloom on the ground at Gardens by the Bay, it means someone in Japan has blown at the Dandelion installations there, sending dandelion fluffs Singapore’s way. NAKED hopes to install the Dandelion network in other major cities to connect various communities around the world.

Gardens by the Bay’s Senior Director of Business Development Ng Boon Gee, said, “Gardens by the Bay is excited to collaborate with NAKED on Dandelion, especially since the objective of this floral-themed installation aligns with our belief that flowers never stop blooming even in adversity. Japan is well-loved by many Singaporeans, and we hope the installation will bring some cheer and joy and allow Singaporeans to convey their well-wishes to Japanese friends via dandelion fluffs, and vice versa, given the prevailing travel restrictions.”




NAKED’s founder Mr Muramatsu said, “I am happy to present the first Dandelion installation outside Japan at Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay. Gardens by the Bay is the perfect place to host this interactive artwork augmenting interaction between person and flower because the Gardens is a clear representation of a world in which nature and people coexist harmoniously. The feeling we have when we see a beautiful flower is universal, and so are our wishes for the world to become a better place. Flowers need no words. They are completely impartial. Their seeds fly to new places at random and bloom there. Through this art, we hope to spread this spirit and connect with our friends in Singapore and in the rest of the world through prayers for peace, kindness, and positivity.”

Dandelion is the latest in a series of cross-cultural collaborations between Gardens by the Bay and international partners. Other recent collaborations include:
(a) The Embassy of the Republic of Korea and Seoul Tourism Organisation to bring in the Royal Family Procession lantern set during the Mid-Autumn Festival in September
Taiwanese sculptor Lee Kuang-yu for the ongoing A Sculptor’s Secret Garden sculpture exhibition in Cloud Forest

(b) The Embassy of France to present A Virtual Voyage through Masterpieces and the French Film Festival’s Ailo’s Journey, as part of the programmes in the ongoing vOilah!

(c) France Singapore Festival 2020s Orient Express Heritage and Arab World Institute for the upcoming Once Upon A Time On The Orient Express exhibition in December

(d) The Netherlands Embassy for the design of the upcoming Poinsettia Wishes floral display in December; and the Royal Danish Embassy, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Embassy of Sweden and the Embassy of Finland for the accompanying festive programmes

Dandelion
Date: Monday, 9 November to Sunday, 15 November
Location: Supertree Grove (Lawn)
Time: 7pm to 10pm
Details:
· Admission is free.
· A maximum of five people is allowed to approach the installation at any one time.

For more information, visit www.breathbless.com or www.gardensbythebay.com.sg .

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