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National Museum of Singapore unveils 170m-long digital interactive forest installation
POSTED 21 Dec 2016 . BY Tom Anstey
The design is inspired by the 19th century collection collected by William Farquhar
The National Museum of Singapore has debuted a unique digital exhibit turning 69 drawings into a single giant animated interactive illustration.

Using sensors set up in the newly-refurbished Glass Rotunda, the installation by Japanese art collective teamLab allows visitors to interact with the flora and fauna.

Titled Story of the Forest, the digital piece, which is 15m (49ft) in height and 170m (558ft) long, is based on the museum’s watercolour collection and mimics the dense tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. The design is inspired by the 19th century collection collected by William Farquhar – the first Commandant of Singapore.

Starting at the top of the three-storey structure, visitors enter through a dark room projecting falling petals across the ceiling, before walking down a 144-metre (472-foot) spiral path with animals running through the intricately-designed forest. The exhibition ends in a room raining petals. As visitors approach the petals they immediately sprout, growing in seconds into towering trees.



The exhibition also introduces augmented reality to the experience, with users downloading a free app to find animals, pointing their smart device at the creatures as they appear in the digital forest to register them.

"Due to the massive size and scale of the Glass Rotunda, this is by far the most challenging digital artwork installation created by teamLab to date," said studio founder Toshiyuki Inoko.

"Our team was immensely inspired by the intricate drawings from the William Farquhar Collection while conceptualising this ground-breaking installation, and we are excited to present it to visitors from Singapore and around the world here at the National Museum.”

The Glass Rotunda reopens after a two-year closure. It is now home to Story of the Forest and Singapore, Very Old Tree – a special exhibition featuring photos by local photographer Robert Zhao.
Trees grow from sprouts as people approach the interactive screen
Entering at the top of the three-storey structure, visitors enter through a dark room projecting falling petals across the ceiling
The piece is based on the museum’s watercolour collection and mimics the dense tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia
The exhibition also introduces augmented reality to the experience, with users downloading a free app to find animals
The exhibition ends in a room raining petals
The Glass Rotunda reopens after a two-year closure
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NEWS
National Museum of Singapore unveils 170m-long digital interactive forest installation
POSTED 21 Dec 2016 . BY Tom Anstey
The design is inspired by the 19th century collection collected by William Farquhar
The National Museum of Singapore has debuted a unique digital exhibit turning 69 drawings into a single giant animated interactive illustration.

Using sensors set up in the newly-refurbished Glass Rotunda, the installation by Japanese art collective teamLab allows visitors to interact with the flora and fauna.

Titled Story of the Forest, the digital piece, which is 15m (49ft) in height and 170m (558ft) long, is based on the museum’s watercolour collection and mimics the dense tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. The design is inspired by the 19th century collection collected by William Farquhar – the first Commandant of Singapore.

Starting at the top of the three-storey structure, visitors enter through a dark room projecting falling petals across the ceiling, before walking down a 144-metre (472-foot) spiral path with animals running through the intricately-designed forest. The exhibition ends in a room raining petals. As visitors approach the petals they immediately sprout, growing in seconds into towering trees.



The exhibition also introduces augmented reality to the experience, with users downloading a free app to find animals, pointing their smart device at the creatures as they appear in the digital forest to register them.

"Due to the massive size and scale of the Glass Rotunda, this is by far the most challenging digital artwork installation created by teamLab to date," said studio founder Toshiyuki Inoko.

"Our team was immensely inspired by the intricate drawings from the William Farquhar Collection while conceptualising this ground-breaking installation, and we are excited to present it to visitors from Singapore and around the world here at the National Museum.”

The Glass Rotunda reopens after a two-year closure. It is now home to Story of the Forest and Singapore, Very Old Tree – a special exhibition featuring photos by local photographer Robert Zhao.
Trees grow from sprouts as people approach the interactive screen
Entering at the top of the three-storey structure, visitors enter through a dark room projecting falling petals across the ceiling
The piece is based on the museum’s watercolour collection and mimics the dense tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia
The exhibition also introduces augmented reality to the experience, with users downloading a free app to find animals
The exhibition ends in a room raining petals
The Glass Rotunda reopens after a two-year closure
RELATED STORIES
Philippe Starck and Foster + Partners combine to design JW Marriott's first Singapore hotel


Hotel giant JW Marriott has opened its first hotel in Singapore across several buildings brought to life by designer Philippe Starck and architects Foster + Partners.
KidZania expansion continues with S$90m Singapore edutainment park


KidZania continues to rapidly expand operations with the launch of its latest edutainment centre at Palawan Beach Sentosa in Singapore.
Singapore's National Gallery offers a walk through history using art


The exhibition designers of Singapore’s recently relaunched National Gallery have laid out the idea behind the concept – a walk through time using the medium of art to tell the story of Singapore and southeast Asia.
Work starts on South Korea's US$1.8bn Resorts World Jeju development


A groundbreaking ceremony has been held for South Korea’s US$1.8bn (€1.6bn, £1.2bn) Resorts World Jeju, which is aiming to rival its Singaporean counterpart at Resorts World Sentosa.
MORE NEWS
Toverland unveils €98m expansion plan as park prepares to launch resort development
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi- day destination.
Butterfly sanctuary to host hot yoga during retreat at Jersey Zoo for Hotel de France
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
Warner Bros Discovery collaborates on upcoming Pompeii attraction
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while remaining actively involved with the company.
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COMPANY PROFILES
Polin Waterparks

Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976. Polin has since grown into a leading company in the waterpa [more...]
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V.

Vekoma Rides has a large variety of coasters and attractions. [more...]
iPlayCO

iPlayCo was established in 1999. [more...]
DJW

David & Lynn Willrich started the Company over thirty years ago, from the Audio Visual Department [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
29 Sep - 02 Oct 2026

Synergy - The Retreat Show

Pical Resort, Valamar Collection, Porec, Croatia
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT NEWS
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PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
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