Preview: Art-Zoo Inflatable Park @ i Light Marina Bay 2018

Ever wanted to see some extinct animals up close, or better yet, a unicorn? This March, take a walk on the wild side and experience just that as i Light Marina Bay 2018 welcomes the second edition of Art-Zoo to the Float @ Marina Bay!

Drawing huge crowds when it first premiered last year, one of the biggest, most colourful menageries of inflatable animals is back to wow crowds with more sights than ever before! Expanding its line-up to a whopping 15 giant inflatable clusters (up from last year’s 11), Art-Zoo is poised to draw in not just the kids, but each and every kid at heart as they bounce themselves around these giant, cuddly creatures and even get the chance to go inside some of them.

At the press conference held atop a 12 metre wide pink flamingo, Art-Zoo creator Jackson Tan talked about his inspiration behind the project, where he remembers his childhood spent at the zoo and playing around animal-themed playgrounds near his grandparents’ place. That dream finally became a reality when i Light Marina Bay came along and asked him to contribute a new hub for the festival, something that would truly have a universal, family-friendly appeal.

Said Jackson: “Last year, we wanted to includes animals representing each letter of the alphabet. This time around, we went with the theme of different colours, and really decided to go all out with our imaginations and include extinct and mythical animals in the zoo, like the yeti. Part of the aim though, is for visitors to also gain a learning experience through their interactions with the art, and find out about species which are at risk of being endangered, and possibly inspire them to include more conservation in their lifestyle.”

Besides the mythical and endangered species, you’ll also find plenty of familiar faces at the zoo this year, including the famous Bishan otter family getting their very own cluster. Said Jackson on his favourite animal in this edition: “Last year, my favourite was the giraffe because a lot of people said that it’s tall like me. But it’s in Taiwan right now, so for this edition, it has to be the unicorn, which is just as tall as the giraffe, and you can even slide down the rainbow behind it!”

Although Art-Zoo will only officially open on 9th March, those who can’t wait to get a taste of it can already do so at 6 Capitaland Malls who’ve already set up previews with the actual inflatables within the premises from now till 25th February. These malls are Bedok Mall, Bugis+, JCube, Plaza Singapura, Raffles City and Westgate. To find out how you can play at these previews and for more information, visit CapitaLand’s website here.

Looking at the simple yet incredibly appealing designs of these characters, one immediately thinks of Japanese kawaii culture, reminding us of popular characters such as Hello Kitty or Miffy. Art-Zoo has been so popular that they’re currently even showing in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with plans to tour to other Asian countries such as Hong Kong, South Korea and of course, Japan. Having had a go reawakening the kids within us and simply letting loose and bouncing up and down on these inflatables, we’re beyond excited for the return of Art-Zoo this March, and can’t wait to see the entire collection of wonderful animals all together once again.

Art-Zoo will be open daily from 9th March to 1st April at The Float @ Marina Bay. Tickets available from artzooworld.com or at the gates.