‘Exobiotanica’, An Art Project Featuring Plants Sent Into the Stratosphere

“Exobiotanica” is an art project by Japanese artist Azuma Mokoto that sent plants into the stratosphere — the second major layer of Earth’s atmosphere that starts at around 7 miles above the ground and continues to 31 miles above the ground. The project was launched on July 15th in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert.

The project included a 50-year-old Japanese white pine bonsai — called “Shiki 1” — and a carefully constructed bouquet of flowers featuring irises, orchids, lilies, and more. Though the devices that carried them were recovered, neither the bonsai or bouquet were recovered. More on the project is available on The New York Times’ T Magazine blog.

Plants on the earth rooted in the soil, under the command of gravity.
Roots, soil and gravity – by giving up the links to life, what kind of “beauty” shall be born?
Within the harsh “nature”, at an attitude of 30,000 meters and minus 50 degrees Celsius,
the plants evolve into EXBIOTA (extraterrestrial life).
A pine tree confronting the ridge line of the Earth.
A bouquet of flowers marching towards the sun hit by the intense wind.
Freed from everything, the plants shall head to the space.

photos via Azuma Mokoto

via The New York Times T Magazine