Get ready to be blown away by the stunning glass sculptures of world-renowned American multi-media artist Dale Chihuly at his exhibition at Gardens by the Bay.
Running till 3 October 2021, Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom marks the celebrated artist’s first major garden exhibition in Asia.
For over 50 years, Chihuly has pushed the boundaries of glass, reinventing natural and man-made environments with his experiments in light, space, and form.
Get close to 25 of his magnificent large-scale installations, as well as more than 80 pedestal sculptures and two-dimensional works at the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and the various Outdoor Gardens including The Meadow, Serene Garden, World of Plants, Dragonfly Lake, SG50 Lattice and Victoria Lily Pond. The works have been shipped directly from Seattle and installed at Gardens by the Bay.
We highlight 5 amazing Insta-worthy pieces that you cannot miss!
Cloud Forest Persians
The use of ribbed optic molds is essential to the aesthetic of Persians. Molten glass, ringed by linear wraps, is plunged into these molds to create repetitive patterns. When blown out, the bubbles are transformed into swirling, irregularly shaped rondels with fascinating detail.
Ethereal White Persians
First exhibited in 1986 as part of his exhibition at the Musée des Arts Decoratifs, Palais du Louvre in Paris, Chihuly’s Persian series is a celebration of form, scale and colour. Originally presented on pedestals, the series’ dramatic compositions have evolved to include installations mounted on walls, overhead on ceilings and assembled in the form of chandeliers and towers. For Chihuly, Persians evoke an ancient sensibility and conjure notions of Venice, and the Near and Far East.
Float Boat & Floats
Chihuly first filled boats with glass in Nuutajärvi, Finland, during the 1995 Chihuly Over Venice project. After several days of glassblowing, he started tossing glass forms into the Nuutajoki River to see how they would look in the environment. As the glass floated downstream, it was retrieved in wooden boats by local teenagers, inspiring Chihuly to begin massing forms into wooden boats, for installations in museums and gardens.
Red Reeds
Originating during his experimentation in Nuutajärvi, Finland, and later revisited by Chihuly, Reeds are among the most dramatic blown glass forms. To create the long, tubular shape, one glassblower is elevated in a mechanical lift while blowing through the pipe to encourage the form to stretch, while another pulls the glass toward the ground.
Chihuly explains: “In Finland, we started making these long, cylindrical pieces that looked like Spears. This was an exciting new form. It was the first time we ever made anything like that. Sometimes I call them Spears and sometimes I call them Reeds. They can be taken anywhere –they can go outside. They are very strong pieces and they are very dramatic.”
Setting Sun
A quintessential example of Chihuly’s daring approach to large-scale installations, the Sun reflects his lifelong interest in architecture and the natural world. A massing of colour and form on a grand scale, the Sun has appeared in varying palettes – from bold combinations of fiery orange, red and yellow to more subdued hues of rich golds and clear glass forms.
ADMISSION
• Tickets to Cloud Forest and Flower Dome conservatories from $20
• The Complete Experience package from $27/adult, $20/senior & $18/child (weekday)
• SingapoRediscovers Vouchers can be used for ticket purchases via https://ticket.gardensbythebay.com.sg
