Botanical Pair Travels to Space

For his Exobiotanica project, Azuma Makoto elevates his new art installation to unprecedented new heights. The Tokyo-based floral artist launched a 50 year old Japanese white pine bonsai tied to the middle of a metal cube frame and a floral arrangement consisting of orchids, dahlias, lilies, and irises among others into the stratosphere. According to Makoto, “I wanted to see the movement and beauty of plants and flowers suspended in space.” He partnered with JP Aerospace, a volunteer-based organization that builds and sends vessels into orbit, to make the lofty project possible. The bonsai and flowers were carried by helium balloons Away 100 and Away 101 respectively and were launched in Black Rock Desert in Nevada. The botanicals followed roughly the same flight path and traveled up for 100 minutes before the balloons burst and took another 40 minutes to fall back down. Both devices were found 5 miles away from the launch site but neither bonsai nor the bouquet were spotted after their ascent.