Visitors to Gardens by the Bay are leaving with more than just photographs as Australian contemporary artist Cj Hendry’s acclaimed Flower Market makes its South-east Asian debut this week.
Running from June 10 to 14 at the gallery space of IMBA Theatre, the free immersive installation transforms the venue into a whimsical floral wonderland featuring plush versions of more than 30 flower varieties displayed in market-style buckets, The Straits Times reported.
The exhibition includes eight blooms created exclusively for Singapore, among them the Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim, Singapore’s national flower, the Raffles’ Pitcher Plant and the Singapore Ginger Flower. Visitors receive a complimentary plush flower and can purchase additional blooms as souvenirs.
Hendry, a New York-based artist renowned for turning everyday objects into large-scale interactive experiences, first launched Flower Market in New York in 2024. The exhibition has since travelled to cities including Abu Dhabi, Sydney and Hong Kong before arriving in Singapore.
The opening day drew large crowds, with social media videos showing eager visitors rushing into the venue to secure the limited-edition Singapore-exclusive flowers, AsiaOne reported. While many enjoyed browsing at a relaxed pace, others were seen collecting armfuls of plush blooms, sparking debate online.
Some netizens criticised the frenzy and raised concerns about possible reselling, particularly after Singapore-exclusive flowers and event merchandise appeared on online marketplace platforms at marked-up prices. Others called for limits on the number of exclusive items each visitor could obtain.
Despite the controversy, the installation has been widely praised for its playful and nostalgic appeal. Event planner Chong Pei En, 26, who has followed Hendry’s work for over a decade, described the flowers as familiar objects transformed into something magical and childlike.
Hendry will return to IMBA Theatre later this month with JuJu World, running from June 20 to July 18. The ticketed attraction will feature the world’s first inflatable experience based on her collectable JuJu character, including a Singapore-exclusive yellow edition and limited-edition merchandise available only during the event.
Admission to Flower Market is free, with walk-ins welcome daily subject to venue capacity.
