Article
Raku Inoue (All Other Images)
Math,

Flower Artist

Raku Inoue makes beautiful artwork out of plant parts

By Alessandra Potenza
From the February 2022 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will subtract fractions with unlike denominators related to the plant parts used in different artwork.

Lexile: 890L; 640L
Focus Area: Fractions and Decimals,
Standards
  • CCSS: 4.NF.B.3.A TEKS: 4.3E

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Lexile® measure

  • 890L
  • 640L
symbolic

Representing something else, such as a feeling or memory
wilt

Become limp through heat, loss of water, or disease
common denominator

A denominator that is shared by two or more fractions. To add or subtract fractions, you need to have a common denominator.

Example: 1/4 and 3/4 have a common denominator: 4.

Raku Inoue (All Other Images)

Inoueʼs flamingo, “Staring Bob,” was made from gerbera daisy and rose petals.

One day, Canadian artist Raku Inoue (ee-noh-ooh-eh) noticed rose petals had fallen from a bush in his backyard. Inoue had an idea: He arranged the petals in the shape of a beetle on a piece of paper. He used thin green twigs for its legs.

In the following months, Inoue created more insects using leaves, seeds, flowers, and other plant parts. “Insects have always had a symbolic meaning for me,” Inoue says. He grew up in Japan, where he and his family often searched for bugs in local parks.

Raku Inoue (ee-noh-ooh-eh) is a Canadian artist. He noticed rose petals in his backyard one day. The petals had fallen from a bush. Inoue had an idea. He arranged the petals on a piece of paper. He made the shape of a beetle. He used thin green twigs for the beetle’s legs.

Inoue created more insects in the following months. He used leaves. He used seeds. He used flowers and many other plant parts. “Insects have always had a symbolic meaning for me,” Inoue says. Inoue grew up in Japan. He often searched for bugs in local parks with his family.

Inoue took photos of his creations and posted them on social media. Soon, people began noticing his work!

Since then, Inoue has created sculptures of all kinds of animals, from sloths to tigers. To make complex designs, Inoue makes a skeleton out of plastic foam. He covers the skeleton with a layer of a sponge material soaked in water. He sticks the flowers and plant materials into the sponge. This helps keep them fresh for longer.

Inoue took photos of his creations. He posted the photos on social media. People noticed his work!

Inoue has created sculptures of many animals since then. His sculptures have included sloths and tigers. These sculptures have a complex design process. First, Inoue makes a skeleton out of plastic foam. Then he covers the skeleton with a layer of a sponge material. The sponge is soaked in water. Next, he sticks the flowers and plant materials into the sponge. The water in the sponge helps keep the plant parts fresh for longer.

Alex Tran 

Raku Inoue

After he’s done, Inoue races to take photos of his artwork before the plant parts wilt. Then he tosses the sculpture in a compost bin, where it will break down into nutrient-filled soil.

Photos of Inoue’s animals have appeared in books and magazines, and even on clothes! People interpret his artwork in different ways. For example, some see it as a reminder that we should enjoy and respect nature.

Inoue races to take photos of his artwork after he’s done. He has to take all of his pictures before the plant parts wilt. Then Inoue tosses the sculpture into a compost bin. The sculpture breaks down in the compost bin. It becomes new soil that is filled with nutrients.

Photos of Inoue’s animals have appeared in books and magazines. They have even appeared on clothes! People interpret his artwork in different ways. Some people see Inoue’s art as a reminder that we should enjoy and respect nature.

Math Talk

How many petals do you think you would need to design your favorite animal in Inoue’s style?

Math Talk

How many petals do you think you would need to design your favorite animal in Inoue’s style?

Subtracting Fractions

What to Do

To subtract two fractions, make sure they have the same denominator. If they don’t, find a common denominator. You can use area models to help.

Example

4/5 – 1/2 = ?

First, find a common denominator for the fractions.

You can also draw area models to visualize.

Next, subtract your numerators—the shaded parts of the models.

So, 4/5 – 1/2 = 3/10

Subtracting Fractions

What to Do

To subtract two fractions, make sure they have the same denominator. If they don’t, find a common denominator. You can use area models to help.

Example

4/5 – 1/2 = ?

First, find a common denominator for the fractions.

You can also draw area models to visualize.

Next, subtract your numerators—the shaded parts of the models.

So, 4/5 – 1/2 = 3/10

Now You Try It

Use your knowledge of subtracting fractions to answer the questions below.

Use your knowledge of subtracting fractions to answer the questions below.

Inoue uses leaf stems to make ant legs. Theyʼre 1/8 inch wide in the center. At the base, theyʼre 1/4 inch wide. How much wider are the stems at the base than in the center?

Inoue uses leaf stems to make ant legs. Theyʼre 1/8 inch wide in the center. At the base, theyʼre 1/4 inch wide. How much wider are the stems at the base than in the center?

To make a mantis, Inoue uses a rose petal that is 3/4 inch long. He also uses a miniature rose petal that is 1/2 inch long. How much longer is the rose petal than the miniature rose petal?

To make a mantis, Inoue uses a rose petal that is 3/4 inch long. He also uses a miniature rose petal that is 1/2 inch long. How much longer is the rose petal than the miniature rose petal?

To make a butterfly, Inoue uses white hydrangea petals that are 1/4 inch long and pink hydrangea petals that are 7/8 inch long. How much shorter are the white petals than the pink petals?

To make a butterfly, Inoue uses white hydrangea petals that are 1/4 inch long and pink hydrangea petals that are 7/8 inch long. How much shorter are the white petals than the pink petals?

Inoue uses twigs that are 2/8 inch thick for each leg of a beetle. He uses twigs that are 3/10 inch thick to make the antennas. How much thinner is a leg than an antenna?


Inoue uses twigs that are 2/8 inch thick for each leg of a beetle. He uses twigs that are 3/10 inch thick to make the antennas. How much thinner is a leg than an antenna?


Continue Your Learning

  • Rewatch the video “Raku Inoue” (above). Then create an animal or insect of your own in Inoue’s style! You can use plant parts such as leaves and twigs if available, or you may use household items like toothpicks, beads, and/or pieces of paper or string. After you’ve finished your artwork, use a ruler to measure how many centimeters tall and wide your insect or animal is. Is it taller or wider? How do you know?
  • Play a subtracting fractions game with a partner. First, independently write down any fraction. Then show each other your fractions and determine together which fraction is greater. Next, independently subtract the lesser fraction from the greater fraction. Check your answers and give a point to each person who answers correctly. Repeat 5 times, choosing a different fraction each time.

Continue Your Learning

  • Rewatch the video “Raku Inoue” (above). Then create an animal or insect of your own in Inoue’s style! You can use plant parts such as leaves and twigs if available, or you may use household items like toothpicks, beads, and/or pieces of paper or string. After you’ve finished your artwork, use a ruler to measure how many centimeters tall and wide your insect or animal is. Is it taller or wider? How do you know?
  • Play a subtracting fractions game with a partner. First, independently write down any fraction. Then show each other your fractions and determine together which fraction is greater. Next, independently subtract the lesser fraction from the greater fraction. Check your answers and give a point to each person who answers correctly. Repeat 5 times, choosing a different fraction each time.
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