THE TIGERS ARE COMING: WWF-Singapore’s AR-mazing Tiger Trail to be unveiled in February 2022

The upcoming island-wide trail brings together over 60 global & local artists  to raise awareness for tiger conservation

SINGAPORE, 27 January 2022 — The World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore (WWF- Singapore) announces plans for the AR-mazing Tiger Trail 2022, set to take place from Saturday 26^th February – Saturday 9^th April. The island-wide art trail will feature 33 life-sized tiger art sculptures, designed by a collective of internationally-acclaimed artists in a bid to further awareness of the conservatorship of these magnificent creatures. Each of these sculptures present a unique perspective on how climate change, poaching & deforestation is affecting tigers in the wild. 

One of WWF’s core objectives is to conserve the world’s biological diversity. At the start of the 20th century, 100,000 wild tigers wandered freely on Earth; today, only around 3,900 wild tigers remain, the rapidly diminishing population a result of rampant poaching and habitat loss. Tigers have disappeared from Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam within the last 25 years, with populations across the rest of Southeast Asia continuing to decline.

As a large predator, the tiger plays a key role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Using art as an instrument to educate and effect change, WWF-Singapore’s AR-mazing Tiger Trail will explore the future of tiger conservation and ignite hope that positive change is possible if we unite with a common goal.

“We are delighted  to be working with this incredible collective of artists to drive awareness for our tiger conservation mission in a fun, engaging, and approachable way. We hope that WWF-Singapore’s AR-mazing Tiger Trail will inspire our fellow Singaporeans and communities around the region to learn more about how our individual actions contribute to biological diversity. I also wish to thank our partners for supporting this important mission,” said WWF-Singapore’s CEO, Mr. R. Raghunathan.

The trail includes sculptures designed by representatives of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and LASALLE College of the Arts, two of Singapore’s pioneering art education institutions. Both sculptures focus on the Malayan tiger, which is classified as Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species.

• A gold Tiger by Ernest Seah and Cynthie Renata of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) depicts the dwindling natural habitat of the Malayan Tiger through textured tribal and topographical lines. The sculpture’s red paw references the creature’s critically endangered status, whilst signaling hope at humanity’s efforts to eliminate the poaching of Tigers globally.
• Ji Hyun Kim and Harshita Agarwal of LASALLE College have named their piece On the Search, signaling a sense of loss for the tiger’s habitat. Facing the perils of their extinction, this Tiger calls out for global awareness and public education in the hope of increasing their population, protecting their habitat, and eradicating all human and environmental threats, providing them the peaceful nature that is rightfully their home.

“The mission of WWF-Singapore’s AR-mazing Tiger Trail was particularly poignant as I connected with the various artists involved around the world. The Tiger is a majestic animal, and the passion for protecting this incredible species is evident through the various works. We cannot wait to unveil the full trail.” said Chris Westbrook, Curator of Tiger Trail 2022.

WWF-Singapore’s AR-mazing Tiger Trail is made possible by WWF-Singapore’s partners, whose ongoing support enables large-scale awareness campaigns to support WWF- Singapore’s mission to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature.

List of partners for WWF-Singapore’s AR-mazing Tiger Trail:

About WWF-Singapore

WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisations. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

As one of WWF’s international hubs, WWF-Singapore supports a global network spanning over 100 countries. We work to meet key conservation goals, such as tackling deforestation and illegal wildlife trade, as well as promoting food security, sustainable finance, sustainable consumption. For more information, visit wwf.sg.