a new book that i have been all admiration for is the "encyclopedia of flowers" by shunsuke shiinoki which is about the mesmerizing works of makoto azuma.
makoto azuma is a flower artist. he creates synthesis' with flowers and plants. his work takes the unique and never repeated figures found in flora and synthesizes them in a way that extends their existential value.
his work, like a true japanese, travels the mind. it will never fail to make you think, wonder and lose yourself in the highness that is nature.
the series pictured above is one that captures me the most. it is work that appears to put life in a capsule in the most aesthetically pleasing way, almost as if to perserve it. the contrast created by the fact that your mind knows the fatality of this work that lies in the delicateness of flora is simply captivating.
his works encapture the concept of "the cycle of life" magestically, as they change as the flowers inevitably age to their decay.
in this book, there are photos of his works taken by shunsuke shiinoki, a well established and known photographer who captures the essence of azuma's work.
i reccommend this to anyone who loves art, gardening, photography and nature as seen through the japanese scope which seems to have been perserved extremely well within these artists.
