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- Ignacio Aracil Wildflower SculptureThe <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/art">art</a> of pressing and preserving flowers has been around for countless centuries, and with reason! Not only is it a beautiful and simple way to retain the memory of a moment, but it's a green way to create an incredible piece of decor. Spanish artist <a href="http://el-nogal.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Ignacio Canales Aracil</a> has taken this crafty technique and bumped it up a notch with his airy and delicate <a href="http://inhabitat.com/compostable-sculptures-human-forms-sprout-from-wheatgrass/" target="_blank">sculptures</a>. Part dome, part surrealism, Aracil's flower sculptures are woven together and explore the fragility of time.1
- Ignacio Aracil Dried FlowersAracil hand-picks flowers, flattens them, and then weaves them together over a cone-shaped paper mold.2
- Ignacio Aracil Low SculptureAfter a couple of weeks, the flowers dry out to maintain a shape stable enough for the mold to be removed.3
- Ignacio Aracil Pink Flower SculptureA layer of varnish is used to keep the flowers from absorbing moisture.4
- Ignacio Aracil Flower BellOther than the varnish, no other substance is used to hold the sculptures together.5
- Ignacio Aracil Flower Close-UpLooking closely, one can see the beautiful individual flowers, ferns and stems emerge.6
- Ignacio Aracil Flower Cone SculpturesAracil's series, entitled the Fragility of Time, illustrates their temporary nature rather perfectly.7
- Ignacio Aracil Flower DomeThe sculptures maintain their shape via the interwoven stems, leaves, and petals.8
- Ignacio Aracil Fragile Flower SculptureBright pink and white flowers maintain their hues once dried.9
- Pressed Flower SculpturesIt almost appears as though the slightest gust of wind could break up the sculptures and send them scattering.10
- Pressed Flower SculpturesSome of the dried flowers used to create the sculptures.11
- Pressed Flower SculpturesA peek into one of the dried flower bells.12
- Pressed Flower SculpturesClose inspection reveals just how delicate the dried flowers are.13
- Pressed Flower SculpturesDried wildflowers in complementary colors juxtapose gorgeously against green stems and leaves.14
- Pressed Flower SculpturesFerns, and wildflowers intertwine to create the bell shape.15
- Pressed Flower SculpturesIt's almost impossible to believe that this piece can stand upright on its own.16
- Ignacio Aracil FlowersSome of the flowers Aracil will press to create his art.17