Kokedama Forest Installation: the Poetic Relationship of Nature and Art

The kokedama installation participated in the Philadelphia Flower Show. Nomad Studio created this installation with the concept of a miniature forest consisting of 1,200 forestry seed kokedamas arranged regularly to form an inverted dome. This series of seedlings is neatly carved using an intricate metal grid. Through its success at the Philadelphia Flower Show, this ongoing installation will become part of the collection at the NorthPark Center in Dallas, Texas.

Nomad Studio's creating Kokedama Forest Installation

Nomad Studio's background in creating Kokedama Forest Installation focuses on the fact that soil is one of the main habitats on Earth that's too underestimated even though the land is an element that's needed. The most visible thing is that the soil is a place for plants to grow that every time produces oxygen and provides food for living things on this planet.

This installation consists of 1,200 kokedamas 

Thus, Kokedamas is intended as a symbol of the relationship between living things and the soil. It is the poetic embodiment of the intimate relationship between soil and plants, an inspiring blend of nature and art. Exhibitions like this are an important reflection for humans in reflecting on what they have done to be kind to nature.

Kokedama Forest Installation - a blend of nature and art

Through the exhibition, hundreds of native Kokedama seedlings will be adopted by Tyler Arboretum, that's located in the heart of Delaware County, which is a historic organization with a mission to preserve, enhance, and share their heritage, collections, and landscapes to create and inspire nature stewards.

Visitors are directed to enter the micro forest via a path

William E. Roberts and Laura Santín, the founders of Nomad Studio, said they would create a visual reflection that conveys the importance of hidden soil occupants, and how humans can't be separated from the plants. Because soil and plants are suitable habitats for human life.

“The generosity of NorthPark Center, Tyler Arboretum, and other collaborators who will host Kokedama Forest. We will make sure the project narrative will inspire people to pick up on the message,” said Nomad Studio.

Formed using a metal structure with a height of 2,2 square meters

With an installation size of 304m2, visitors will be directed to enter a micro forest surrounded by floating kokedama. Visitors will instantly feel thousands of seedlings floating in a metal structure that has a very close connection with the ground. The metal structure is arranged in an orderly manner with a height of 2.2m to accommodate hundreds of co-kokedamas that form an inverted dome. This pool has been woven with steel featuring a contradictory blend of strength and subtlety implicit across all living tissues. 

Visitors will be surrounded by floating kokedama giving rise to a very close connection with the ground

Kokedama Forest Installation visualization