Created by the renowned Japanese digital art collective teamLab, Story of the Forest is an immersive installation that transforms 69 drawings from the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings into three-dimensional animations. The artwork touches on various histories, that of the site it is presented in as well as the muses it features. Through a virtual and visual landscape, this installation Singapore’s colonial past with its present-day modernity.

Presented in the Glass Rotunda, Story of the Forest is a compelling reminder of our museum’s significance. Framed by the natural foliage of Fort Canning, the Glass Rotunda stands as a modern architectural response to our museum’s 19th-century neo-Palladian Rotunda, which has existed since the institution’s opening in 1887. The second level of the original Rotunda is home to the Goh Seng Choo Gallery, which is dedicated to the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings – our museum’s most prized collection.

Story of the Forest draws its inspiration from this treasured collection. Through stunning artistry and creative technology, it invites you to interact with the animated wildlife of the Malay Peninsula in the 19th century up close.

You can also enhance your visit with our Story of the Forest mobile app, which lets you “capture” and learn more about the various flora and fauna in the Glass Rotunda.

Download the free mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.