BeautifulNow
Arts Design

AZUMA MAKOTO: THE ART OF MOTHER EARTH

Encyclopedia of Flowers - Shokubutsu Zukan, by Makoto Azuma and Shunsuke Shiinoki.
by Shiinoki Shunsuke. Fleur Couture, by Azuma Makoto.

AZUMA MAKOTO

Artist Azuma Makoto uses Mother Earth as his medium, with his contemporary edgy interpretations of ancient Japanese tradition, artfully manipulating natural materials.

Mass of exotic pink, purple, lilac, red, yellow flowers & cactus. By Azuma Makoto.
Image: by Shiinoki Shunsuke. Fleur Couture, by Azuma Makoto.

Makoto is a true flower whisperer, channeling the power. He draws us into a more intimate relationship with them.

Floral mosaic with multicolored flowers by Azuma Makoto.
Image: by Shiinoki Shunsuke. Boxed Flowers Details, by Azuma Makoto.

Going beyond their obvious inherent beauty, Makoto considers the symbolism of flowers. He connects with the fact that while they are central in the celebrations of our lives, they often represent our deepest feelings, as they highlight poignant times, from birth to death.

Box Flowers, by Azuma Makoto
Image: by Shiinoki Shunsuke. Box Flowers, by Azuma Makoto.

Makoto’s Box Flowers series follows the arc of blossoms, from their vivid prime, through their wilt and eventual decay. They were inspired by ancient kusozu, Japanese watercolor paintings that graphically depict Bhuddist 9 stages of human decomposition.

Polypore fungus dipped in gold by Azuma Makoto.
Image: by Shiinoki Shunsuke. Polypore, by Azuma Makoto.

Fungal “flowers,” culled from old-growth trees in Japan are the basis for Makoto’s Polypore series. They are embellished with fluids inlays of gold and platinum.

Floral arrangement with pink, purple, yellow flowers by Azuma Makoto.
Image: by Shiinoki Shunsuke. Exobiotanica, by Azuma Makoto.

In his groundbreaking series, Exobiotanica, Makoto launched trees and flowers into the stratosphere.

Art installation with tree inside cube set on desert dunes by Azuma Makoto.
Image: by Shiinoki Shunsuke. Shiki 1, Sand Dune, by Azuma Makoto.

One work features a 50-year-old white pine bonsai plant, while another features a floral bouquet, each encased in a metal frame, attached to helium balloons. GoPro cameras captured their journey.

Crystal vessel with seeds sculpture by Azuma Makoto.
Image: by Shiinoki Shunsuke. Crystal Seedcases, by Azuma Makoto.

Makoto’s Crystal Seedcase series features glass vessels, shaped like avocado, sunflower, and other seeds, each containing a small collection of real seeds.

Flower arrangements encased in glass cubes by Azuma Makoto.
Image: by Shiinoki Shunsuke. Iced Flowers, by Azuma Makoto.

Life is suspended in Makoto’s Iced Flowers series, as deconstructed bouquets are encased in blocks of ice.

Bicycle covered in green moss by Azuma Makoto.
Image: by Shiinoki Shunsuke. Botanical Bike, by Azuma Makoto.

Makoto’s “Botanical Couch” and “Botanical Bike” show his whimsical side, shifting everyday objects into the realm of the surreal, by coating them with greenery.

Exotic orchids, calla lilies and ginger blossoms. Arrangement by Azuma Makoto.
Image: by Shiinoki Shunsuke. Designed by Azuma Makoto.

Check out Makoto’s first solo exhibition,“Capsule #5: Azuma Makoto,” at the Chamber Gallery, in Manhattan, extended through May 8, 2016.

Encylopedia of Flowers, by Azuma Makota and Shiinoki Shunsuke.
Image: Courtesy of Seigensha. Encylopedia of Flowers, by Azuma Makota and Shiinoki

Look for Makoto’s fabulous floral installations, commissioned by Fendi for their pop-up store at Selfridges in London, on display as of May 16, 2016.

Mass of assorted multicolored flowers by Azuma Makoto.

Image: by Shiinoki Shunsuke. Jardin de Fleur (JARDINS des FLEURS), by Azuma Makoto.

 

And visit Makoto’s flower shop/laboratory, Jardins de Fleurs, in Tokyo. And check out Encylopedia of Flowers, by Azuma Makota and Shiinoki Shunsuke.

Cube with tree sculpture on wavy red sandstone rock formation by Azuma Makoto.
Image: by Shiinoki Shunsuke. Shiki I x Sandstone I, by  Azuma Makoto.

Read more about Beautiful Earth all this week on BeautifulNow, including Soft Places to Land, Soft Furry Feathered Beauties, The Beauty of Soft Dawns, Soft Grey Inspiration, A Beautiful New Kind of Cloud, and Soft Sweet Scrumptious Clouds. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

Image: by Shiinoki Shunsuke. In Bloom #2, by Azuma Makoto.
Image: by Shiinoki Shunsuke. In Bloom #2, by Azuma Makoto.

Want more stories like this? Sign up for our weekly BN Newsletter, Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest. Join our BeautifulNow Community and connect with the most beautiful things happening in the world right now!

Do you have amazing photos? Enter them in this week’s BN Photo Competition.

Exotic purple and red flower arrangement by Azuma Makoto.

Image: Courtesy of Seigensha. Encyclopedia of Flowers - Shokubutsu Zukan, by Makoto Azuma and Shunsuke Shiinoki.

RELATED STORIES