'Pandora' Unfolded in Singapore... A Warning from the Nabi Tribe to Earth

Gardens by the Bay Hosts 'Avatar: The Experience' Exhibition
Opening on 14th to Celebrate 'Avatar: The Way of Water' with Pandora-Themed Display
Featuring 160 Plant Species, 7-Story Waterfall, and Avatar Sculptures
Emphasizes Environmental Protection Beyond Movie Promotion... Warns of Earth's Devastation

The background of the movie Avatar (2009), directed by James Cameron, is Pandora. It is a star that emits a pure light like a jewel. In the sky, feather clouds, flock clouds, and cumulus clouds drift leisurely, just like on Earth. On the land, clean water that can be drunk and used for washing overflows. In the forest, 300-meter-tall trees and fascinating flora and fauna inhabit the area. Each one emits a wondrous light. The Na'vi tribe collectively call this presence 'Eywa.' They perceive it as a single, enormous being with a consciousness. They believe that everything is connected and that the world maintains balance.

The nurturing mother of nature, who embraces all living things generously, has been recreated in Singapore. At the representative tourist attraction Gardens by the Bay, a special exhibition titled Avatar: The Experience is being held until March 31 of next year. The Cloud Forest Dome, the world's largest column-free greenhouse, has been decorated to resemble Pandora. Over 160 existing plant species, a seven-story-high purple waterfall, and Cloud Mountain blend with Avatar sculptures to present a unique charm. Felix Loh, CEO of Gardens by the Bay, stated, "We created an environment as similar as possible to Pandora."

The beauty of the lush habitat doubles at night. Colorful flowers and Na'vi models reflect rainbow-colored flashes, emitting brilliant light. The mysterious atmosphere is amplified by the sounds of birds and insects heard beyond the thick mist. Sitting in a Na'vi hut and embracing the experience like Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in the movie brings back lost peace and stability. It also fosters the belief that a perfect ecological balance can be achieved without advanced technology.

The clear conveyance of the theme was made possible by the participation of The Walt Disney Company, director James Cameron, producer Jon Landau, and others who collaborated on the film. They recreated the environment rooted with mysterious life forms and the captivating culture of the indigenous people as vividly as the computer graphics (CG) in the movie. The sculptures are not just simple models listed one after another. Animatronics and other technologies were applied to give the impression that they are truly alive. Animatronics is a culture technology (CT) that uses mechanical skeletons and electronic circuits to remotely control lifelike characters. The local group Cityneon was in charge of this production. They are a theme park and intellectual property (IP) project company that has presented exhibitions such as Jurassic World Special Exhibition in Korea.

The most eye-catching sculpture is the life-sized Ikran resembling a pterosaur. It flaps its wings and makes eye contact with visitors one by one without feeling out of place. A much smaller baby Ikran is held in the arms of a guide, continuously greeting visitors. Unique experiences can also be felt in various interactive zones. In a row of photo booths, visitors’ images are captured and an Avatar version matching them is generated. In the interactive media art, Eywa’s magic is embroidered on the front and floor. The video was directed by Cameron himself. There is also a space that will unveil creatures from Avatar: The Way of Water, which premieres on the 14th. Creatures such as the Tulkun, reminiscent of whales, and the Ilu, resembling plesiosaurs, appear from all directions in an aquarium-like setting. All of them have forms that might have existed long ago on Earth.

There are hardly any places left on Earth where nature remains in its original state. Forests once dense with various trees are now filled with matchbox-like houses and protein farms. Most of the seas are used as marine farms cultivating synthetic seaweed. Yosemite National Park, once full of majestic rocks and beautiful peaks, has been developed into exclusive residences for the wealthy and powerful, and the Yosemite Falls, which used to thunderously cascade, have dried up.

Earth was once as green and beautiful a planet as Pandora. However, endless human selfishness and greed have devastated the environment and caused living beings to wither and die. Meanwhile, humans’ place has also shrunk. Most survive on cheap carbohydrates and synthetic proteins, breathing air mixed with sulfur. They spend each day engulfed in fear and anxiety inside cramped, dusty gray concrete structures.

This is why Avatar: The Experience cannot be simply dismissed as a movie promotional space or theme park. The nostalgia for an unknown ancient Earth directly translates into a warning that all life on Earth is in peril. The Na'vi placed throughout the exhibition live in harmony with the laws of nature. With faces that communicate with nature, they speak to visitors worn down by modern civilization, just like Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) introduces Pandora in the movie: "All energy is borrowed for a while and must be returned someday."