ST Picks S pore invites visitors to dream of a better future at Osaka World Expo

OSAKA – Singapore is inviting visitors to its Osaka World Expo pavilion to dream, a fitting pursuit given that the international exhibition is being held on the man-made Yumeshima or Dream Island.

Dreams are necessary to seed change and innovation for a better world, going by the narrative crafted by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) for its pavilion, which officially opens on April 26.

The Singapore Pavilion, which has been designated as a signature SG60 event to mark Singapore’s 60th year of independence, depicts the indomitable spirit of an island nation that has weathered the odds, with its people sculpting their dreams into tangible realities.

The pavilion’s distinct architecture, a vibrant red globe, is a play on the moniker “Little Red Dot”, which was once intended as a derisive insult of the small city-state but has come to be embraced by Singaporeans as a badge of honour.

Expo 2025, a half-year bonanza of exhibits and experiences with the theme of Designing Future Society for Our Lives, opened its doors to the public on April 13.

But Singapore has saved the formal launch of its pavilion for April 26 to commemorate a special occasion: It is 59 years to the day in 1966 when the Republic established diplomatic ties with Japan. A new orchid is set to be unveiled during the festivities.

The target of the pavilion is to welcome at least one million visitors through its doors over six months, said STB executive director Carrie Kwik, who is in charge of the exhibit.

“We want to inspire them to create their own dreams, contribute these dreams and have them shape the world, by communicating this in an immersive way,” she told The Straits Times.

The $36 million pavilion, which is named the Dream Sphere, carries the tag line Where