Fifty Wings is a bronze and stainless steel sculpture by James Surls near the southeast entrance to the Rain Forest at Singapore Botanic Gardens. NParks lists the work in the Central Core. It was donated in 2015 to mark 50 years of Singapore’s independence.
To find it, open the Gardens’ sculpture map and look for the Rain Forest before choosing a route from your gate. The southeast entrance is the landmark to share if you are meeting someone by the sculpture.
- Where: Southeast entrance to the Rain Forest.
- Artist: James Surls.
- Inspiration: The winged fruits of dipterocarp trees.
How to find the sculpture from the garden gates
NParks provides sculpture maps starting at Tanglin Gate and Bukit Timah Gate. Choose the version that matches your entrance and look for Fifty Wings in the Central Core. Once you reach the Rain Forest, use the entrance marked on the map to locate the work.
Why the sculpture has fifty wings
The fifty forms commemorate fifty years of independence. They draw their shape from the winged fruits of dipterocarp trees, which grow in Southeast Asian rainforests. The long extensions on a fruit can make it spin as it falls, giving the wind more time to move it away from the parent tree.
A detail to look for with children
Pause at two viewing angles and see how the metal forms overlap. Ask children to pick one wing and describe its shape, then sketch what they think a real fruit with a wing might do when dropped. The contrast between the fixed sculpture and the moving fruit makes the connection easier to remember.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fifty Wings in the National Orchid Garden?
NParks lists it at the southeast entrance to the Rain Forest.
Who made Fifty Wings?
James Surls made the work from bronze and stainless steel.
Which map should I use from Botanic Gardens MRT?
Use the official sculpture map that starts at Bukit Timah Gate.