The Geese sculpture is near The Dell at the northeastern end of Swan Lake in Singapore Botanic Gardens. If the sculpture is your first stop, arrive at Napier MRT and use the Tanglin Entrance. At the lake, look for The Dell on the visitor map and follow the paths around the shore.
There are two bird artworks associated with Swan Lake. Geese is the group near The Dell. Flight of Swans is the separate sculpture that rises over the water. If a friend asks you to meet by the bird sculpture, send the artwork’s name or a pin as well as the name of the lake.
- Closest MRT entrance for a Swan Lake visit: Napier MRT via the Tanglin Entrance.
- Landmark to use once inside: The Dell, near the northeastern end of Swan Lake.
- The featured Hasselblad photo shows Bukit Timah Gate, the alternative arrival point at the other end of the Gardens.
How to get there from Napier MRT
Choose the Tanglin Entrance on the Gardens map before you start. Once inside, follow signs to Swan Lake. Use the lake as the first landmark and The Dell as the second. This two-step approach is easier than trying to spot a small artwork from an entrance or relying on a generic Gardens pin.
On a first visit, pause at the map before following the shoreline. The lake curves, so the section you see when you reach the water may hide the spot you want. Follow the public path toward The Dell and look for the group of birds from a position where you can stop without blocking others.
If you arrive at Botanic Gardens MRT
Botanic Gardens MRT on the Circle and Downtown lines serves the Bukit Timah side. It works well if you want to walk through more of the Gardens before reaching Swan Lake, or if your group plans to arrive at one gate and leave by another. The photo at the top of this guide shows this entrance.
If you start at Bukit Timah Gate, plan a longer walk through the Gardens. Follow the posted maps toward the Tanglin side, then switch to Swan Lake and The Dell as your local landmarks. If the lake is your only stop and your rail route makes both stations practical, use Napier.
How the geese came to Swan Lake
The Gardens records Tan Jiew Hoe as the donor and lists the artist as unknown. The work was given in 1995 to mark the opening of the National Orchid Garden. Its first position was in front of Burkill Hall. It moved to Swan Lake in 1996.
The two addresses in that history explain why someone looking up the artwork may encounter both Burkill Hall and Swan Lake. Burkill Hall belongs to the story of the donation. The Dell is the landmark for today’s search.
What to look for when you find it
Step back first and see how the individual birds read as a group. Then compare the direction of the heads and the spacing between the forms. A child can describe one thing the sculptor changed from bird to bird, and another thing the group has in common. The exercise works even without knowing the artist’s name.
For a photograph, take one wide frame that makes the lake setting legible and another with the birds as the main subject. If the first view has several birds overlapping, take a few steps along the public path to see whether they separate visually. In bright light, check whether the reflection is obscuring or adding to the picture.
How to turn the stop into a short walk
For a quick visit, walk from Tanglin Entrance to Swan Lake, find Geese, then return to the gate at your own pace. With more time, find Flight of Swans as a second stop. The two works give the walk a simple purpose without requiring a full route around the Gardens.
With children or visitors who need a gentler pace, make the sculpture the only fixed stop. Check the official visitor map for paths and facilities before you set off, especially if you need a step-free route. Leave time to pause rather than setting a tight connection at the far gate.
Frequently asked questions
Is the sculpture at Eco Lake?
Look for Geese at Swan Lake, near The Dell. Eco Lake is a separate destination on the Bukit Timah side.
Are Geese and Flight of Swans the same artwork?
They are two separate artworks. Use The Dell to locate Geese and look over the lake for Flight of Swans.
Who sculpted Geese?
NParks lists the artist as unknown and credits Tan Jiew Hoe as the donor.
Can I start from Cluny Park Road?
If you are already on the Botanic Gardens MRT side, enter at Bukit Timah Gate and allow time to cross the Gardens toward Swan Lake.