Azuma
Makoto

FLOWER PUNK

BOTANICAL SCULPTURE

Azuma Makoto — Japanese botanical sculptor and flower artist born 1976 in Fukuoka Prefecture. Moved to Tokyo in 1997 pursuing rock stardom, discovered his passion for flowers working as a trader at Ota Market. He founded Jardins des Fleurs in 2002 with photographer Shiinoki Shunsuke and pioneered "botanical sculpture" around 2005. His "In Bloom" series launched bouquets into the stratosphere at 30,000 meters and submerged one hundred varieties in Suruga Bay, exploring the ephemeral beauty of flowers in extreme environments. Makoto's monumental works, including the MEXX installation at SFER IK Tulum, challenge the boundary between nature and art through dramatic interventions that celebrate botanical life. His collaborations span Dries van Noten to Rihanna, with all work photographed by Shiinoki Shunsuke. The documentary Flower Punk by Alison Klayman captures his artistic process.