CJ Hendry's Flower Market Exhibition in Singapore Draws Crowds, Sparks Debate Over Purchasing Behavior
Visitors at Australian artist CJ Hendry's Flower Market pop-up at Gardens by the Bay were filmed grabbing armfuls of plush flowers, with many suspected of reselling them, prompting widespread online criticism. The free immersive installation, running June 10–14, features over 30 varieties of plush flowers including eight Singapore-exclusive designs priced at S$7 per stem after one complimentary flower. The incident has reignited debate about scalping at limited-run art events and whether organisers bear responsibility for imposing purchase limits.
CJ Hendry's Flower Market, making its Southeast Asian debut at the IMBA Theatre Gallery beside Gardens by the Bay's Bayfront Plaza, descended into chaos on its opening day as visitors were filmed scooping up large quantities of plush flowers into tote bags, with Singapore-exclusive bins visibly emptied out shortly after opening. Each visitor receives one complimentary flower plush upon entry, with additional stems available for S$7 each, but no purchase cap exists. Resale listings quickly appeared on Carousell, with individual Singapore-exclusive stems fetching S$70–S$88 and bouquets of seven stems listed for up to S$91, far above the retail price. Netizens criticised both the behaviour of suspected scalpers and the event organisers for failing to impose limits, with some noting a similar frenzy had occurred at the Sydney edition in May. IMBA CEO Michael Lee confirmed crowd management measures including timed registration, queue marshals, and live wait-time updates, but stated there are no plans to limit the number of flowers any visitor may purchase, citing artist CJ Hendry's philosophy that her art should be accessible to everyone. The eight Singapore-exclusive designs — including the Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim, Raffles' Pitcher Plant, and Singapore Ginger Flower — were confirmed as the most sought-after items, and organisers said all flowers would be replenished based on availability. The Flower Market has previously run in New York, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, and Sydney, where queues of up to seven hours were reported.
What's missing
It is unclear whether IMBA or CJ Hendry have any contractual or ethical mechanisms to address secondary market reselling, or whether they have considered such measures for the remaining days of the event. The total number of each Singapore-exclusive flower available per day is not disclosed, making it difficult to assess how quickly stock is genuinely depleted versus replenished.
How coverage differed
All four outlets reported the core facts consistently and neutrally. The Straits Times provided the most additional background on CJ Hendry's broader artistic career and the installation's global tour history, while AsiaOne and CNA/8days placed slightly more emphasis on social media reaction and netizen commentary, but no meaningful ideological or framing divergence was present.
What different sources said
- 8daysCenter
Why Were People Rushing To Grab Fake Flowers At This Exhibition At Gardens By The Bay?
- Channel NewsAsiaCenter
'Why are people being so greedy?': CJ Hendry’s viral Flower Market sparks debate over plush flower frenzy
- The Straits TimesCenter
Long queues, rush for plushies: Cj Hendry’s Flower Market stirs floral frenzy in the Garden City
- AsiaOneCenter
Visitors snap up Singapore-exclusive blooms at Flower Market, Lifestyle News
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