For one month, the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay became a celebration of Indonesia. Given complete creative freedom, Make A Scene was invited to interpret eight regions of the Indonesian archipelago through nine unique, handcrafted sculptures, drawing inspiration from their landscapes, wildlife, cultural traditions and symbols.The collection included a giant Sumatran Rafflesia, Lampung Siger Tiger, Javanese Peacock, Balinese Naga, Komodo Dragon, Kalimantan Hornbills and Jakarta Ondel-Ondel. Each sculpture was conceived and handcrafted over four months in our Bali studio using a rich and diverse palette of Indonesian palm leaves, bamboo, fibres and other natural materials. The works were then transported to Singapore, where our team completed them in situ with fresh handwoven coconut leaf, bringing the final layer of living material directly into the Flower Dome.
‘Walk amongst Indonesia’s diverse living patterns, expressed through nine bold, biodegradable sculptures celebrating nature, culture and artistry.‘
All nine sculptures were brought together within one condensed landscape, living amongst more than 7,000 orchids. The result was an immersive world of vibrant colour, texture and scale.
Created by 27 Balinese artisans, the exhibition was experienced by 462,000 visitors from around the world during its month-long run. What began as a temporary exhibition ultimately found a much longer life: Gardens by the Bay chose to retain several of the sculptures for permanent display, with further works finding a permanent home at the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore.
Orchid Extravaganza at Gardens By The Bay will remain a defining moment in our studio’s journey —to show just how far Indonesian weaving can travel – in scale, imagination and place. How traditional craft can become contemporary art without losing the cultural roots that make it meaningful.
Perhaps most importantly, it proved that the magic we create in Bali can travel.
