Sculptures in the Outdoor Gardens (Part 1)

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Closure of Floral Fantasy on 19 to 30 Nov

Sculptures in the Outdoor Gardens (Part 1)

Sculptures are a form of visual arts. They are three-dimensional structures created through casting, constructing, carving or modelling mediums such as clay, fabric, metal, paper, stone, wood and even live materials.

There are over 40 sculptures to be found throughout the Gardens and they complement the beauty of our plant collection.

Living Sculptures

A living sculpture is one that is created using live plants. Web of Life in the World of Plants is home to a collection of living sculptures! Here you will find topiaries of animals that can be found in a tropical rainforest and a fig wasp sculpture woven from a variety of plants.

Animal Topiaries

Topiary is the practice of pruning plants to develop and maintain specific shapes and forms. Larger than life fig topiaries of animals such as the hornbill, pangolin and orangutan tower over visitors to this part of the Gardens.

Fig Wasp Living Sculpture

This sculpture reflects the symbiotic relationship between fig wasps and figs. Unlike the animal topiaries which are predominantly green, this sculpture boasts several hues to create greater texture and variation.

Approximately 24,500 plantlets of 14 varieties of the waffle plant and joyweed were planted into the foundational frame of the sculpture. The assorted shades of green, purple, red and yellow help to make the wasps, branches and figs distinct from one another.

Admire these living works of art the next time you visit Web of Life!

Written by: Stephanie Dhillon, Assistant Director (Education, Programming & Events)

Stephanie is apparently a millennial but feels more like a Gen-Xer. She spends most of her days designing education programmes for the young and young at heart and the rest of her time running after her brood of children.