Robert Zhao Renhui: 5 Albizias

Step into the shade of the Albizia tree (Albizia moluccana), a resilient migrant tree species that has quietly spread and flourished in rewilding green spaces across Singapore’s landscape, forming isolated islands amid Singapore’s urban concrete jungle. 5 Albizias, a travelling showcase by artist Robert Zhao Renhui, explores the history of the Albizia tree in Singapore, tracing its origins to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, where the fast-growing species often populates areas marked by human intervention and natural disturbances. 

Through striking visuals of five Albizias—four from across Singapore in Tampines, Punggol, Jurong, and Woodlands, corresponding to the showcase venues—and one from the Maluku Islands, 5 Albizias invites visitors to examine the impact human actions have on these spaces and the dynamic interplay between native and non-native, natural and artificial. By spotlighting the resilience of these often-overlooked trees, the exhibition brings to the fore their essential role in rewilding disturbed land, creating pockets of green where life can thrive anew.

Presented by Singapore Art Museum, 5 Albizias takes Zhao’s explorations of the Albizia tree into the heartlands. Beginning at Punggol Regional Library, the showcase will travel to the following locations from 18 December 2024 to 29 June 2025: 

• Punggol Regional Library: 18 December 2024 – 2 February 2025
• Woodlands Regional Library: 5 February 2025 – 23 March 2025
• Jurong Regional Library: 26 March 2025 – 11 May 2025
• Tampines Regional Library: 14 May 2025 – 29 June 2025