Japanese artist Makoto Azuma uses nature -- from flowers to fungi and bonsai -- to create unique "living art". Trained as a florist, Azuma says he is both a florist and an artist.
Exobiotanica - Botanical Space Flight, 2014 —
Japanese artist Makoto Azuma uses nature -- from flowers to fungi and bonsai -- to create unique "living art". Trained as a florist, Azuma says he is both a florist and an artist.
Courtesy Azuma Makoto
In Exobiotanica, Azuma sent a pine bonsai and a mother's day bouquet into space and photographed them suspended against the earth. "Making just an art object was not a goal at all," says Azuma. "I thought I could make more beautiful flower art in the world of minus 60 degree Celsius."
Exobiotanica - Botanical Space Flight, 2014 —
In Exobiotanica, Azuma sent a pine bonsai and a mother's day bouquet into space and photographed them suspended against the earth. "Making just an art object was not a goal at all," says Azuma. "I thought I could make more beautiful flower art in the world of minus 60 degree Celsius."
Courtesy Azuma Makoto
"Originally Flowers exist in the nature in a way they should be. But I always thought that flowers shine even more or strike you with their beauty deeper in our minds when I stripped them out of their natural environment," says Azuma.
'Shiki1 x Sandstone' from Shiki: Landscape and Beyond, 2015 —
"Originally Flowers exist in the nature in a way they should be. But I always thought that flowers shine even more or strike you with their beauty deeper in our minds when I stripped them out of their natural environment," says Azuma.
Courtesy Azuma Makoto
Azuma is presently experimenting with making art with flowers in the deep sea. "The time needed for creation depends on the size of the work, but we cannot take tens of hours to work on flowers," explains Azuma of his work. "We need to build detailed plans and processes and create a piece in one go. I would not take more than 2-3 hours even for the biggest art work."
'Shiki1 x Glacier' from Shiki: Landscape and Beyond, 2015 —
Azuma is presently experimenting with making art with flowers in the deep sea. "The time needed for creation depends on the size of the work, but we cannot take tens of hours to work on flowers," explains Azuma of his work. "We need to build detailed plans and processes and create a piece in one go. I would not take more than 2-3 hours even for the biggest art work."
Courtesy Azuma Makoto
The artist works closely with a number of high-end fashion brands. "Fashion moves faster by absorbing the changes in society, much faster than flower culture does. It is very important to depict the mood of the current society and I learn to diversify my art work (this way)," he says.
FENDI and Azuma Makoto, 2015 —
The artist works closely with a number of high-end fashion brands. "Fashion moves faster by absorbing the changes in society, much faster than flower culture does. It is very important to depict the mood of the current society and I learn to diversify my art work (this way)," he says.
Courtesy Azuma Makoto
"Flowers come close to human feelings, but the human also needs to get close to flowers," says Azuma. "Flowers have been attracting human beings for a long time and that has never changed. The culture of mourning with flowers existed even before the language was established."
'Tsuge' from Leaf Man, 2015 —
"Flowers come close to human feelings, but the human also needs to get close to flowers," says Azuma. "Flowers have been attracting human beings for a long time and that has never changed. The culture of mourning with flowers existed even before the language was established."
Courtesy Azuma Makoto
"I do not care much what others say about me. When I try something new, there are many comments made. I hope that my work will change people's view of the flower and its beauty," says Azuma.
Botanical Installation 'Palm Tree x Algiers' —
"I do not care much what others say about me. When I try something new, there are many comments made. I hope that my work will change people's view of the flower and its beauty," says Azuma.
Courtesy Azuma Makoto
Azuma began to experiment with burning flowers for art following a death in his family, something he described as "a difficult work."
Burning Flowers, 2016 —
Azuma began to experiment with burning flowers for art following a death in his family, something he described as "a difficult work."
Courtesy Azuma Makoto
"I have been interested in what kind of expression flowers show when they burn down to nothing for a long time," says Azuma. "I prepared flowers that were about to wither, because they won't burn otherwise, but they still look beautiful at that stage."
Burning Flowers, 2016 —
"I have been interested in what kind of expression flowers show when they burn down to nothing for a long time," says Azuma. "I prepared flowers that were about to wither, because they won't burn otherwise, but they still look beautiful at that stage."
Courtesy Azuma Makoto
Azuma works closely with Japanese photographer Shunsuke Shiinoki, who is an old friend of his from high school and now his business partner.
Box Flowers, 2015 —
Azuma works closely with Japanese photographer Shunsuke Shiinoki, who is an old friend of his from high school and now his business partner.
Courtesy Azuma Makoto
"Only he (Shunsuke Shiinoki) can make a photograph of my art work because...flower art is very special, slicing out the beauty of a moment," says Azuma. "His photo is not a loyal depiction of my work, but it empowers my work. That's because he himself is florist, a flower expert. He knows flowers best."
Box Flowers, 2015 —
"Only he (Shunsuke Shiinoki) can make a photograph of my art work because...flower art is very special, slicing out the beauty of a moment," says Azuma. "His photo is not a loyal depiction of my work, but it empowers my work. That's because he himself is florist, a flower expert. He knows flowers best."
Courtesy Azuma Makoto
"I use flowers that are living. If I use their life to create a piece, I would like to create a work that should surprise the flower themselves, or the people who see them. I am an entertainer who uses flowers," says Azuma of his art.
PETAL BOX, 2015 —
"I use flowers that are living. If I use their life to create a piece, I would like to create a work that should surprise the flower themselves, or the people who see them. I am an entertainer who uses flowers," says Azuma of his art.
Courtesy Azuma Makoto
Azuma has an underground florist shop in Tokyo, called "Jardin des Fleurs", that he says is "like a wine cellar." The temperature, light and humidity are all carefully controlled to ensure the flowers are shown at their best.
Drop Time installation, 2016 —
Azuma has an underground florist shop in Tokyo, called "Jardin des Fleurs", that he says is "like a wine cellar." The temperature, light and humidity are all carefully controlled to ensure the flowers are shown at their best.
Courtesy Azuma Makoto
"I think my mission as flower artist is to create something new out of flowers by adding our artificial inputs, or to give flowers new life in totally new situation. I believe that's what my work is about and that's what I must do," says Azuma.
Iced Flowers installation, 2015 —
"I think my mission as flower artist is to create something new out of flowers by adding our artificial inputs, or to give flowers new life in totally new situation. I believe that's what my work is about and that's what I must do," says Azuma.
Courtesy Azuma Makoto
"Expression using plants is not something that is expected to last long. It is the art of something that withers and disappears at the end...and that is ephemeral beauty that the art of flower and plants express," says Azuma. "Having said that, we have the technology now to photograph it, film it or fixate it in acrylic cube."
Frozen Pine, 2011 —
"Expression using plants is not something that is expected to last long. It is the art of something that withers and disappears at the end...and that is ephemeral beauty that the art of flower and plants express," says Azuma. "Having said that, we have the technology now to photograph it, film it or fixate it in acrylic cube."
KRISTOF VRANCKEN/Courtesy Azuma Makoto