Organic nature is neatly cut, with artificial borders outlining its contours. Plants breathe, sprout, and bloom, as the cycle of life continues. Exploring freedom and order, we re-examine the relationship between humans and nature. Technology becomes a companion to approach nature, awakening a nearly forgotten connection.
Location: Building D, West Bund Art Center, No. 2555 Longteng Avenue, Shanghai
Pond Society is pleased to present Square Nature, a solo exhibition by Azuma Makoto, opening on November 11, 2025.In this neatly framed slice of nature, organic life is gently enclosed, outlined by silent, human-made borders. Within this small, defined “nature,” plants breathe slowly, sprout quietly, and bloom as the cycle of life unfolds in stillness. Square Nature is an invitation to reflect on freedom and order, and on our evolving relationship with the natural world.Controlled light filters through, and mist guided by sensors fills the air with moisture. Within this enclosed space, a miniature ecosystem pulses with quiet vitality, amplifying the mystery and beauty of life itself. Technology is no longer a sterile mechanism — but a resonant partner that coexists with nature. As urban dwellers, we pause to observe, to listen, to draw near. And in doing so, we awaken a delicate connection between humans and nature — one we may have nearly forgotten.The entrance to the first floor is a transparent glass greenhouse, resembling a plant living room nestled within the gaps of the city. Here, colorful potted plants coexist and grow together in a community-like arrangement, while mist and natural sounds flow through the air, creating a multi-sensory ecological field. The ceiling installation simulates the movement and pouring of sunlight, and an intermittent rainfall system allows water droplets to gently fall among the greenery, making the entire space continuously change with the rhythm of time. As the entrance to the exhibition, this greenhouse not only guides visitors into the space but also conveys, in a plant-like manner, the message of life continuing and spreading within the city.In another exhibition area, an installation of freezing cabinets is presented. Each freezer contains transparent blocks of ice, within which floral artworks composed of various fresh flowers are preserved, capturing the moment of bloom in frozen layers. The ice acts as a vessel of time, transforming the brief flowering of plants into a contemplative eternity. These works serve as monuments to the beauty of nature and as silent creations at the intersection of floral art and refrigeration technology.On the second exhibition floor, nine small paludarium units are arranged in a 3×3 matrix, forming a research-oriented ecological experimental field. Each unit displays different combinations of natural elements, simulating unique micro-ecosystems. Visitors can observe and compare the subtle differences and visual evolution of these miniature installations under varying conditions of humidity, temperature, and light.The third exhibition floor presents works exploring the mysteries of flowers. Block Flower preserves the most beautiful moments of blooms in transparent acrylic, displaying the eternal and innovative beauty of plants. It is as if time stands still, and the posture of each flower is forever recorded, constructing a poetic space for contemplating the mystery of flowers on both macro and micro scales. The space features a uniform 4×6 matrix of mixed-base pedestals. Visitors freely navigate through the array, engaging in dialogue with plants amid the interplay of macro and micro. (Square Nature is presented by Pond Society and West Bund Museum.)
About the Artist
Azuma Makoto (b. 1976) has been in the flower business since 2002 and is the owner of the haute-couture floral shop “JARDINS des FLEURS” in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo. In 2005, he began to explore the expressive potential of flowers and plants, seeking forms that cannot be contained within the conventional framework of floral art. He invented the genre of the “botanical sculpture,” creating works that soon attracted commissions from outside Japan as well.Following a solo exhibition in New York, his audacious works have been repeatedly shown in Europe, the United States, Asia, and South America. In 2009, he launched the experimental botanical lab Azuma Makoto Kaju Kenkyujo (AMKK), and has since exhibited his experimental works at art museums, galleries, and public spaces in all over the world. In recent years, Azuma has focused on projects exploring the connections between human beings and flowers. He continues to pursue the beauty of flowers and plants from his unique point of view, ranging from the installation of huge flowers of works known as the “Botanical Sculpture” to the microscopic artwork where flowers are projected using X-ray technology, by maximizing the charms of flowers as “life”.About Tickets
2025.11.10 – 11.16 during WEST BUND ART & DESIGN：Free 2025.11.17 – 2026.1.31: ¥30 / personMethods：Cat EyeDamai主 办：池社 / 西岸美术馆
特别鸣谢：东信花树研究所 / 宝丽 / 企一照明 / 回澜威士忌蒸馏厂
Organizers: Pond Society / West Bund MuseumSpecial thanks to AMKK / POLA / KEEY Lighting / HUILAN Whiskey Distillery
