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Hydrangeas and Judas trees—known in Turkish as erguvan—fill the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, where the Istanbul-themed exhibition "Blue Beauties" opened to the public.
Organized in collaboration with Türkiye's Embassy in Singapore and Turkish Airlines (THY), the exhibition marks the fourth consecutive year Türkiye has served as the cultural content partner for the world-renowned park's annual floral series.
Singapore's Minister of State for Finance Indranee Rajah, Türkiye's Ambassador to Singapore Sadik Arslan and Gardens by the Bay Chief Executive Officer Felix Loh attend the opening ceremony of the "Blue Beauties" exhibition at Gardens by the Bay.
Ambassador Sadik Arslan addressed the guests at the opening ceremony, describing Istanbul as a city that has served not only as a political center but also as a cradle of art, poetry, architecture and aesthetic refinement across centuries.
His remarks framed the exhibition as a window into a civilization in which flowers were not ornamental elements but companions of daily life.
Erguvan, the Judas tree whose crimson-pink blossoms are closely associated with Istanbul, occupies a central place in the exhibition.
Ambassador Arslan noted that the tree's flowering along the Bosphorus has symbolized renewal and the arrival of spring for generations, drawing admiration from Ottoman sultans, poets and artists alike.
Exhibition displays arranged around visual references to Istanbul's landmarks—among them Topkapi Palace, the Maiden's Tower, the Grand Bazaar and the hot air balloons of Cappadocia—illustrate the depth of Türkiye's cultural and historical legacy within the floral installation.
Traditional Turkish crafts, including hand-woven textiles, ceramic tiles, carpets, evil eye talismans and copperwork, are presented alongside the botanical displays, offering visitors a material record of Istanbul's artisan heritage embedded within the wider floral narrative.
Live performances of classical Turkish music accompany the exhibition, providing visitors with a direct experience of a musical tradition shaped, in part, by the same floral imagery that runs through Ottoman poetry and visual arts.
Ambassador Arslan noted that selected compositions from this canon would be featured throughout the run.
Visitors move through the Flower Dome as they explore the intersection of botanical display and cultural presentation.
The exhibition is expected to draw more than 300,000 visitors before its close on June 21, continuing a partnership between Türkiye and Gardens by the Bay that began with the "Origins of the Tulip" installation in 2023.
The 2026 edition builds on three previous years of cultural collaboration—including the 2024 lake-themed display and the 2025 "Tulipmania" program—and coincides with the 40th anniversary of Turkish Airlines' first flight to Singapore. The airline serves as the principal sponsor of the exhibition.
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