CJ Hendry Flower Market frenzy in Singapore sparks criticism over crowd behaviour and resale activity

A video circulating online showing visitors rushing to collect plush flowers at the CJ Hendry “Flower Market” installation in Singapore on 10 June 2026 has sparked debate over crowd behaviour at the immersive installation.

The footage, which was reshared on Reddit, showed large groups of attendees moving quickly through the space and collecting multiple plush flowers, with some scenes appearing chaotic.

The immersive installation, held at IMBA Theatre, is part of Australian artist CJ Hendry’s “Flower Market” series, which transforms indoor spaces into large-scale immersive installations featuring plush floral sculptures.

Entry is free, with each visitor entitled to one complimentary plush flower, while additional pieces are available for purchase.

Pre-registration slots for the Singapore edition were fully claimed, though walk-ins were allowed daily subject to capacity.

Peak sinkie kiasu behaviour at Flower Market
by u/KopiSiewSiewDai in singapore

Criticism over behaviour online

The video prompted mixed reactions online, with some users criticising what they described as overly competitive behaviour among attendees.

A commenter described the scenes as embarrassing and expressed strong second-hand embarrassment over the rush to grab multiple flowers.

Another user echoed similar sentiments, using the term “kiasu” to describe the behaviour and calling it embarrassing to watch.

Some commenters questioned why visitors were collecting so many plush flowers.

Another user questioned the hype surrounding the event and said they did not understand the rush to collect multiple flowers, adding that the items would likely just be kept without use.

Someone replied that they were being taken for display or resale rather than personal enjoyment.

A separate commenter also said they did not understand the appeal, another user replied that the flowers would likely just “collect dust”.

Another user criticised the behaviour more strongly, describing it as “madness” and saying there was no need to behave so aggressively over limited items.

Defence citing early rush and limited items

Not all responses were critical. Some users suggested that the behaviour was concentrated among early entrants and those seeking Singapore-exclusive items, which were quickly collected shortly after opening.

One commenter said the chaotic scenes were likely caused by early entrants and scalpers, and that the situation became smoother later on.

Another user noted that similar behaviour had occurred at previous editions of the installation in other countries.

Some commenters also pointed to resale activity, suggesting that the plush flowers were already appearing on secondary marketplaces.

Another user added that flowers were reportedly being resold shortly after the event.

Broader discussion over crowd control and event design

The incident also sparked discussion over event management and crowd control, with some users arguing that organisers should have implemented stricter limits on distribution to prevent bulk collection.

One commenter said the issue reflected a failure in enforcement, arguing that organisers likely knew scalping could happen but chose not to impose limits.

Another user argued that responsibility ultimately lies with organisers under a first-come, first-served system, where demand-driven behaviour is expected.