The Albizia tree (Albizia moluccana), native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, has quietly spread itself through Singapore’s landscape, embodying both utility and resilience. Far from an accidental presence, Albizia moluccana had been intentionally introduced for its rapid growth and ability to thrive in the soils disturbed by external forces such as deforestation or urban development. According to “the Report of the Singapore Agri-horticultural Society for 1866,” Albizia was already well established by then, brought to Singapore long before 1866 as shade trees for coffee plantations, similar to their use in Java.

This book documents five Albizias: four from across Singapore and one from the Maluku Islands. They examine how human actions have shaped these spaces, exploring the blurred boundaries between native and non-native, natural and artificial, and demonstrate how Albizias, despite often being considered undesirable, perform a subtle but powerful role in rewilding disturbed spaces. By spotlighting these often-overlooked trees, the project redefines resilience and adaptability in Singapore’s ever-changing environment. Contains an essay by Haeju Kim and an opening section of archival photographs. Published in conjunction with an eponymous exhibition that travelled across four locations in Singapore where the Albizia trees were found and documented.

text by Haeju Kim (translation by Maya West)
design by gideon-jamie