CHLOË MANASSEH
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PALMA VIVA

(Living Palm) designed by Fine Artist Chloe Manasseh. 2018

Commissioned by Changi City Point Mall and Frasers Property, in association with ARTBEATZ.

Steel, Aluminium, Brass, 14 x 3 m

PALMA VIVA is synonymous with Changi City Point’s architectural design of a “garden within a city”. The symbiosis of Changi City Point and its surrounding communities resonates within the interactive elements of the art installation. A total of 181 gold leaves, created in collaboration with local participants in the Changi precinct, revolve around ‘PALMA VIVA’ to form an intricate DNA structure. Each gold leaf is a DNA strand, embedded with wisdom, precious moments, and stories hand-drawn and embossed by the community. The gold leaves carry an interconnectedness forever interwoven into the core of the sculpture. Inspired by botanical Peranakan patterns and Singapore’s tropical landscape, ‘PALMA VIVA’ evokes a sense of exotic escapism. The art installation reflects how imagination converges with physical space, echoing the roots and diversity of the community through a living sculptural intervention. Subtle lighting flowing through the art installation embodies the living element of ‘PALMA VIVA’, portraying how life is constantly refreshed and renewed. An interactive button onsite allows you to breathe new life into the art installation - creating the pulse of Singapore with an array of movement and colour! 

Below is a small excerpt from the 181 golden leaves created by the local community, and their stories behind them. (Full archive coming soon)

I intentionally chose to draw waves because I want people who see my leaf to feel a sense of ambience and relief, especially since we live in such a bustling and hectic society.
Michaela Ong
This shows my journey to the summit of success. It may be hard and tiring but someday I will get there with perseverance.
Sradha Ghare
Peace of mind is the key to a happy life. Keep calm and remain at peace, they good for the health and mind.
Dylan
I love this therapy. It gives me the opportunity to express myself freely. This art represents my expression of free will, happiness and gratefulness of meeting nice people to talk to. Thank you!
Dorothy See
Panda baby loves bamboo and wishes bamboo nearby all the time. It symbolizes abundance and good fortune.
Laura Lu
'W' stands for Wonderwoman. For all the girls out there, dare to dream!
N/A
Camping under the moonlight.
N/A
I am a mermaid - beautiful, wild, and free!
N/A
 I think this design looks like a leaf. The circles symbolises food, and when there are many of such circles, the leaf will turn orange. I call this leaf a "Papaya Leaf"
Caleb Quek
It makes no difference where you're from, what your colour, how you pray, or who you love. Everybody matters.
N/A
My cat's name is de Oten She is small and fat My little cow
Mas
Change, and your dreams will come true.
Bin Hui
Messy fish
Julie
This golden leaf was in a temple for 3000 years until a young boy found it in a chest underground which was covered in gold. The golden leaf was believed to give powers to the person who holds it. Only a person with a pure heart can use this power. He was named "gold boy".
Kyler Chan
The Many "Faces"…Everyone has many "faces". We need to put up different faces to face all the different people and things. This is how we cope with life.
Eileen Wong
The First Totem in Singapore - My drawing is about a totem. The first totem in Singapore, holding a lot of secrets.
N/A
This drawing is just a sketch I did in a journal I have at home. I did this sketch while I was daydreaming during class (I was bored). I think this just represents a tree person? Someone I want to be but it would not happen since I have so many responsibilities that I have no time for myself to relax? I was also playing with the marker colours provided.
Mirrah Amirah
When I was about 8, I caught a glimpse of the Xenomorph in the movie my dad was watching and could not sleep alone for the next 8 years of my life. Then I dove into horror movies and the Xenomorph is now my favourite alien.
Kaede
This is my mother. She's the closest to my heart, she helps me do some things that I don't know.
NA
The engine of a cool time machine.
Ralph Lee