azuma makoto preserves bonsai tree inside futuristic ecosphere 

japanese flower artist azuma makoto presents his latest installation, a 19th-century terrarium reimagined for the modern era. makoto, whose previous works include launching a bonsai tree into space, preserves the traditional potted plant this time around, inside a futuristic-looking ecosphere.

images courtesy of azuma makoto

‘paludarium TACHIKO’ is the fourth in a series created by azuma makato that reimagines the paludarium, a type of enclosure similar to a terrarium or aquarium. it functions as an ecosystem inside a container, simulating the conditions needed to preserve organisms such as plants or insects. their main purpose is for either aesthetic, scientific or horticultural purposes.

paludarium’s became popular in the 19th century with the invention of the wardian case, a sealable glass container used to export native british plants to sydney in australia and vice versa. using this as a starting point, makoto created the TACHIKO to mimic weather conditions using a drip-feed water system and a mist machine in order to regulate temperature and humidity.

‘people placed a precious plant shipped from colonies inside a glass-walled container, and appreciated its growing cycles inside their home far away from the plant’s own home,’ explains makoto. ‘the series of ‘paludarium’ is a result of new interpretation of paludarium, which is now equipped with various functions and transformed into a contemporary encapsulated environmental system.’

glass walls permit natural light from all sides and built-in fans recreate wind. there’s even waterproof speakers so that music can be played inside. meanwhile, details of the plant can be observed through an original flower loupe that hangs on the front of the paludarium as it transitions through a condensed ecological cycle.

project info

artist: azuma makoto
name: encapsulated environmental system: paludarium TACHIKO
size: W840 x D900 x H2,100 (mm)