What is it?
The Encyclopedia of Flowers has been compiled by the Japanese artist/florist Azuma Makoto (responsible for the flower arrangements) and Shiinoke Shunsuke (photographer). As the name suggests, the book - as thick as your fist - is an incredibly beautiful encyclopaedia of flowers and plants from around the world. And yes, it contains a handy and comprehensive index at the back, but it’s particularly the fantastic photographs that you will want to leaf through endlessly, page after page after page.
“As a florist, I think it’s my responsibility to archive flowers for future generations, so that they’re not forgotten."
Encyclopedia of Flowers, third instalment
Part 1 came out in 2011, part 2 in 2015 and the third part in 2016. Azuma Makoto: "With the encyclopaedia we’re archiving flowers and plants. New flowers, both beautiful and ugly, are appearing and disappearing in the market at an ever faster rate. As a florist, I think it’s my responsibility to archive them for future generations, so that they’re not forgotten. This project is very important for me, and it will be continued by my company even after my death."
