Tulipmania - Its Wild Origins Floral Display (2021 1020)
Locate: Flower Dome @Gardens by the Bay
Getting There:
MRT BayFront (DT/CE1) Exit B via underpass
This year, the display traces the origin of the tulip as a rare wildflower in the wilderness of Central Asia. Follow in the footsteps of Kazakh nomads on migration through the Central Asian steppes, and discover the cultural heritage and architecture of Kazakhstan, where annual tulip festivals celebrate the ephemeral beauty of wild tulips. Amidst the colourful tulips on display, a traditional yurt handmade by Kazakh craftsmen beckons, revealing a cosy interior filled with felt textiles, furnishings, and a crackling fire.
Timurid Architecture in Central Asia
Timurid architecture is a style of architecture in Central Asia that is heavily influenced by Seljuk traditions, often featuring grand scale buildings. It is not uncommon for the exteriors to be decked with intricate blue and turquoise linear and geometric patterned glazed tiles, inspired by Iranian Banna’i technique, which represent the clear sky and water.
Kazakh Yurt
A Kazakh yurt is a traditional, simple and practical portable dwelling of nomadic Kazakhs that can be easily assembled, providing a safe and comfortable space. Yurts are made from natural and renewable raw materials, designed to be transported by pack animals.
The lattice work that forms the wall of the yurt is known as kerege. The kerege is connected by the yuk, poles that form a dome-like structure, which supports the shanyrak, an element that lets in light into the interior of the yurt.
Silk Road Bazaars
Throughout the Silk Road, marketplaces and bazaars were places to trade goods and information as well as for people to gather and share news. As merchants travelled across the expansive steppes, caravanserais were built to provide rest stops, and these eventually turned into marketplaces for the trade of goods and services.
Oriental Carpets and Rugs
Nomadic lifestyle
The territory of Kazakhstan has historically been inhabited by nomadic tribes that roamed the vast Kazakh steppes. These tribes originally moved throughout Central Asia, Russia, China and Mongolia.
The Kazakhs were traditionally pastoral nomads, who relied heavily on their animals for transportation, clothing, and food. They migrated seasonally to find water and rich pastures for their livestock, which included camels, horses, sheep, goats, and cattle.
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