The Standard, Singapore, officially opened its doors tonight with a spectacular grand opening party that brought to the fore its signature lifestyle brand of irreverence and high design. The private event saw the who’s who in creativity, art, media, and fashion arrive in the city, coupled with electrifying entertainment and sublime food and drink.
At the centre of the evening was Dreamscape, a fantastical living installation conceptualized by artist Eric Tobua—in collaboration with The Standard’s brand and design team—who also created the striking centerpiece that is a permanent piece of the hotel’s reception. Known for blending nature, performance, and surrealism, Tobua brought his imaginative world to life— transforming the hotel into a dreamlike landscape where fantasy meets reality. The original Dreamscape, a terrarium-inspired piece set at the reception desk, drew inspiration from Singapore’s lush natural beauty, including Gardens by the Bay and the Botanic Gardens. It featured magical elements like a crystal pond, a white snail, orchids, orange groves, tropical flowers, colourful frogs, and even a mermaid. For the grand opening, Tobua scaled this vision into a full-scale experiential journey throughout the hotel’s tiered garden, reimagining the space as a living fairytale.
The journey began at Café Standard with signature cocktails and elegant canapés served under intimate lighting, accompanied by a curated soundtrack. From there, guests wandered into The Garden, which had been reimagined as a fantastical realm dotted with immersive encounters. A green bush pianist, camouflaged head-to-toe in leaves, emerged from the vertical wall to perform live music, while flower dancers and orchid pole performers glided through the foliage. Whimsical characters like the white snail and other fantastical creatures drifted between guests, adding playful spontaneity to the evening.
In the middle of The Garden was the official unveiling of Impossible Blooms, a bold flower sculpture by Singaporean artist Samuel Xun. Commissioned by The Standard, Singapore, the work symbolised life, blooming, and transformation. Costumes inspired by the sculpture’s vivid forms allowed dancers to emerge like spirits from the artwork itself, embodying the surreal and celebrating the blurring of boundaries between art and life.
The space also featured a series of striking installations: a sculptural waterfall adorned with vibrant tropical flora, turning an existing water feature into a living masterpiece where design and nature converged; and an Orange Grove Walkway, a whimsical trail of glowing oranges and twisting branches that paid homage to both Dreamscape and the hotel’s location on Orange Grove Road. Each twist and turn revealed a new scene, inviting guests to wander and wonder. From spontaneous art encounters to ambient performances, the evening reflected The Standard’s commitment to surprise, delight, and defy convention.
The evening’s crescendo unfolded poolside, where the tranquil waters were transformed into a serene pond echoing Dreamscape’s crystal lagoon. In a breathtaking performance, synchronized swimmers dressed as colourful frogs and lotus flowers glided across the surface, a living reflection of Tobua’s dream world. Another standout moment came when Singaporean soprano Felicia Teo took the stage for a stunning opera performance in a glowing tiger lilyinspired gown, her voice ringing through the garden under the stars.
Hotel website
The Standard, Singapore12 Orange Grove RdSingapore, 258353Singapore
+65 6040 1888
