OSAKA, JAPAN – Singapore has always been known as a little red dot. But one thing our small but influential nation has always been known for is its ability to brand itself well to stand out in a big world. So when the World Expo 2025 comes along, why not turn the little red dot into a massive red sphere for the Singapore Pavilion, loudly and proudly standing out amidst the rest of the Pavilions?
That’s the sight we’re greeted with when we circle the Expo’s perimeter around the Grand Ring, as we arrive at the Pavilion to check out what Singapore has to show the world. The Pavilion proves popular even early in the morning, and we waited about 25 minutes to enter The Dream Sphere (later in the day, queues went up to 2 hours). Looking at the sphere up close, one sees the red dots that make up the surface almost like scales of a fish, perhaps even subtly referencing Singapore Tourism Board’s favourite mascot – the Merlion.
The concept behind the Pavilion is simple – a presentation and collection of Singaporean dreams made reality, proving that while we may be small, we have big ideas and visions for the future. In its description, it promises stories of resilience, imagination, and transformation. From futuristic cityscapes to lush greenery, it’s a glimpse into a nation constantly reinventing itself one dream at a time, emphasising how it weaves together innovation with deep-rooted values of multiculturalism and sustainability.
Stepping into the Pavilion, we are greeted by a series of films by animator Jerrold Chong and filmmaker Mark Wee. Utilising a myriad of animation styles, these films depict visions of the ideal city, emphasising the prevalence and harmony of nature within our urban cityscape, happy citizens living in futuristic buildings and walking in wide open spaces. This may not reflect the Singapore of the present day, but certainly lines up with the government’s views of the Singapore of the (near)future, and our metropolis slowly but surely growing into this united front underpinned by good urban planning.
It’s a first impression that sticks with us, as we turn our attention to our actual surroundings – a paper forest that comprises of work by both Ashley Yeo and Melissa Tan. While it initially appears to simply be recurring figures and patterns, closer inspection reveals that many of these are unique cuttings in the shape and form of unique Singaporean flora and fauna. A little guide even challenges visitors to spot specific species hidden among the ‘jungle’, from the ribbon fern to the Sunda Pangolin, all well-camouflaged amidst the foliage, amidst playful signage that warns of ‘animals ahead’. Alongside signs that inform visitors about our various technological methods of improving our co-existence with animals, from roadway animal detection systems to our exploration of solar energy, to the TreesSG exercise of aiming to plant an additional million trees by 20230, and the Pavilion clearly establishes our continued dedication to creating a City in a Garden.
Wandering on, there are even sculptures of massive towering trees, or glimpses of what look like HDB blocks, butterflies and hanging vines. Yet, all these are white, and seem to suggest that it is yet to be coloured in and fulfilled, while screens continue to paint and play images of green parks. Our walk eventually leads us to Zul Mahmod’s ‘Whispers In The Void’, an immersive sound installation featuring motorised music boxes suspended from the ceiling to resemble shimmering clouds. It is a soft, ethereal soundscape that accompanies us, as if ascending above the canopy, moving away from the real to the surreal, before reaching our next destination.
Here, we arrive at the ‘Dream Repository’, where visitors are invited to share their dreams on an interactive touchscreen, where we get to write or draw out a representation of them. These ‘dreams’ are then collected and represented as lit up spheres, where they’ll play a big role in the climax of the Pavilion itself.
Following a spiral walkway, we reach the peak of the Dream Sphere, where all the dreams that we’ve contributed have been gathered, and are all coming together to form a massive image. We catch wisps of the words and images we’ve written on the rounded screen, where we see animated figures collecting and planting these dreams. It’s a dizzying experience to look up and follow the many things happening onscreen, but suffice to say, these dream ‘seeds’ mature quickly into trees, filling all the blank spaces and blooming into the city of the future before our very eyes, as birds and animals come to roost and make their home, whether in the forests of aquascapes. We see heritage housing, well-preserved even in the future, and towering supertrees – this is truly the city of the future.
As the images fade, we are left to see the screen itself: countless dots as the base that represent all of our thoughts, conscience, and efforts towards making the future Singapore a beautiful reality, before exiting through the gift shop – the Dream Boutique. Featuring local products from Singaporean designers and brands, such as crockery from Supermama or paraphernalia featuring Singapore Tourism Board mascot Merli, we take a moment to breathe, and admire the unique furniture in this resting area.
Beyond the souvenirs, this is also a pseudo-greenhouse in the Dream Forest, with local plants thriving in pots all around that visitors can look at and admire up close, a gardener’s dream if they’re interested in tropical greens. In the evenings, there’s even an installation by Fern Wong and Avik Chan where the forest comes to life with light and music. The Cloud Bar would also be in operation at this time, serving up cocktails made from local alcohol by Tanglin Gin, including of course, a Singapore Sling. For non-alcoholic options, there’s coffee, tea and juice, and cookies from local dessert atelier Janice Wong.
Traipsing down the stairs, you’ll end up at the eatery – the Shiok! Cafe, serving up local favourites such as Laksa, Roti Prata, Chicken Rice, Satay, and even mantou with Chili Crab Sauce and Salted Egg Custard buns. It’s charged at a premium of course, but it’s certainly nice to see local cuisine represented so elegantly overseas in a cosy cafe.
A visit to the Singapore Pavilion is brief but fulfilling, showcasing how for such a small island state, we’ve managed to build up so much infrastructure that brings together our people, planet, and endless possibilities. Anchored by themes of inclusivity and sustainability, with a zero-waste ethos and accessibility features, the Singapore Pavilion is a reminder that size isn’t all that matters – and in fact, can potentially hold dreams as big as an entire world in itself. It’s a space for meaningful pause amidst the hustle and bustle throughout the Expo, and certainly leaves an impact on anyone who visits, coming together to showcase good urban design in a simple but effective story of a nation’s collective efforts to thrive.
Find out more about the Singapore Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka here More information about Expo 2025 Osaka here
AloJapan.com