Flowers are so been there done that, no? Well, actually, no. At least not the way Azuma Makoto sees them. The Japanese flower artist has become known the world over for his whimsical, wonderfully surprising installations and botanical sculptures. From gorgeous bouquets frozen in ice blocks, to transplanting and submerging bonsai trees, his pieces are all the more intriguing, all the more precious when you consider how much work they involve for what ends up being something that's so ephemeral. No wonder the fashion crowd loves him so much.

[Photo via Shiinoki / amkk]