This was supposed to be simple.
Cj Hendry’s juju world has landed at IMBA Theatre, Gardens by the Bay, and the original plan was straightforward enough: tell you there’s a giant yellow inflatable universe built around a collectible rabbit, let you know when to go and send everyone on their merry sock-footed way.
Then the internet did what the internet does best.
Ahead of the show’s opening, Hendry spoke openly about how JuJu was created with help from ChatGPT and AI tools, reportedly going through 30 to 40 iterations before landing on the final character. Pair that with the earlier Flower Market frenzy, where plush flowers were allegedly scooped up and resold, and suddenly this wasn’t just an event article anymore.
It became a question: why is everyone so angry?
The Rabbit In The Room
To be clear, juju world itself is very much built for play. It’s the world’s first inflatable experience dedicated to Hendry’s juju collectible series, with Singapore getting the first yellow edition of the experience. IMBA describes it as a surreal landscape of giant inflatables, towering slides, soft sculptural environments and a vast sea of yellow juju balls.
On paper, that sounds fun. Big, bright, family-friendly, very photographable and made for people who enjoy cute things that can also hang off a bag.
But let’s think deeper into this.
For many creatives, especially in Singapore, the AI discussion isn’t just about one artist using one tool. It’s about years of watching creative work be undervalued, underpaid and then suddenly repackaged at scale when technology makes it faster, louder and easier to sell.
So maybe the anger isn’t only about AI. Maybe it’s about how openly it was used. Maybe it’s about who gets the platform, who gets the press and what gets called art once there’s enough spectacle around it.
Or maybe, if we’re being a bit too honest, some people might also be thinking, “Why didn’t I think of that first?”
Different Plushes, Same Queues
Then, there’s the Flower Market. Before juju world, Hendry’s Flower Market made its Southeast Asia premiere at IMBA, featuring over 30 flower varieties and Singapore-exclusive designs like the Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim, Raffles’ Pitcher Plant and Singapore Ginger Flower. Entry was free, with every visitor’s first flower complimentary.
Lovely idea, right?
Except the conversation quickly moved beyond plush blooms. CNA reported that some visitors bought flowers in large quantities and later resold them online, with Hendry’s broad response being that the hype comes with the territory, which, depending on where you stand, either feels refreshingly hands-off, or deeply frustrating.
And that’s where this probably hit Singaporeans’ nerves.
Because we know this pattern all too well. Concert tickets. Limited drops. Luxury launches. Blind boxes. The moment something gets hot, scalpers appear like they’ve been summoned from private Telegram channels where it’s fastest fingers first.
Flower Market didn’t just expose interest in art. It exposed the same consumer behaviour we complain about every other month, just dressed in prettier petals.
Maybe We’re The Exhibition
Here’s where I’m landing, for now. Hear me out.
I don’t think the answer is as simple as “AI BAD” or “people are overreacting”. I also don’t think it’s fair to dismiss the work that goes into physically building something like juju world just because AI played a role in the character’s development. An image prompt and a full-scale immersive installation people can walk through aren’t the same thing.
But we should still be allowed to ask why this stings.
Maybe juju world and Flower Market are holding up a mirror more than anything else. One shows us how fast AI can enter the art conversation. The other shows us how quickly a free, accessible art object can become resale currency.
Add in the current craze for collectibles, from Labubu, Pop Mart, blind boxes, and if you’re old enough, the McDonald’s Hello Kitty stampedes of yesteryear, and suddenly, the rabbit starts looking less like the whole story. And maybe, we’re the exhibition all along.
(Or maybe we’re overthinking it. Wouldn’t be the first time.)
So, Should You Go?
If you’re one of the people furiously typing through the AI discourse, this may simply not be for you. And that’s fine. Not every event needs to be for every person.
But if you’re curious, if you’ve got kids to entertain, if you want to step into a giant yellow inflatable world, or if you just want a little JuJu dangling from your bag, go in with your eyes open and make of it what you will.
The merchandise side is very much part of the draw too, with items like small and big jujus, tote bags, socks, keychains, pins, caps, T-shirts and mystery bags available. Again, make of that what you will, because collectible culture was clearly invited to the party.
At the same time, if this whole saga has made you angry about the state of the local arts scene, maybe let that anger do something useful. Go support a local exhibition. Buy a zine. Pay for a theatre ticket. Visit a small gallery. Show up for the Singapore creatives who’ve been making work long before this rabbit started rolling through your feed.
Because if there’s one undeniable thing juju world has done, it’s made people talk. And maybe that’s where movement starts and things can change.
juju world Details
🗓️ Date: 20 June to 18 July 2026
📍 Location: IMBA Theatre, Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, #01-24, Singapore 018953
⏰ Opening Hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 10am to 7pm; Fridays to Sundays and Public Holidays, 10am to 8pm
🎟️ Tickets: Adults at S$15; children aged 3 to 12 at S$10; children under 3 enter free
🧦 Note: This is a sock-foot experience, so wear clean socks or be prepared to buy a pair on-site!
For more information and ticket bookings, visit the official juju world page on IMBA Theatre’s website. You can also follow IMBA Theatre and Cj Hendry for the latest updates.
Selected Visuals Courtesy of IMBA, Cj Hendry Studio, and Cj Hendry’s Flower Market in Sydney.
