Demo by David Benavente

[delisea]

I absolutely wouldn't put the slightest effort into understanding the ''cultural background'' or the ''motivation'' of the ''artist''
Should I be cancelled?

Mike you reveal more than you know with this comment. Good luck, I hope you find what you are looking for.

Tim - Micheal Hegedorn's trees are wonderful. He has such a great touch. You can see master, Shinji Suzuki's influence...or did Hegedorn he pick Suzuki because he likeed his style. I would love to see what he would do with some tall eucalyptus.

There is something about some of Ryan Neil's trees that I don't enjoy. I think it is because he has a set of branching shapes that he uses when he is creating a 'natural look'. Those patterns become recognisable so it looks more contrived than when someone is clearly not trying to create a 'natural tree'. There are couple of Australian's that have adopted a similar style on native material. At first it looks cool, but then you can stop seeing those same shapes.

Let's finish this thread off with somethings to ponder:
Why is bonsai obsessed with old trees, why don't we make young trees in the first flush of life?

Why do we think originality has such cache? Originality in art only became a thing in the early 20th century. There are million trees in a forest; what is wrong with having one of them on your bonsai bench, straight, sparse, unloved just like all the others?

Cheers,
S

PS just to annoy some of you more Marou Stemberger

Stemberger.jpg

[Stu]

This is fun!

Let's finish this thread off with somethings to ponder:
Why is bonsai obsessed with old trees, why don't we make young trees in the first flush of life?

Why do we think originality has such cache? Originality in art only became a thing in the early 20th century. There are million trees in a forest; what is wrong with having one of them on your bonsai bench, straight, sparse, unloved just like all the others?

Cheers,
S

PS just to annoy some of you more Marou Stemberger

Stemberger.jpg

I think the obsession with older tree is the success of getting to that age. They have a story and the scars to prove it. There is a majesty in the achievement of hanging around as long as they have. A young tree, as well as being common, has less to inspire. A bit like creating inspiring statues of random kids instead of people who have achieved something significant in their lives.
And yes Mauro's tree are awfully contrived. Amazingly skilled but not my cup of tea. Looks like its made of Lego.

[Keep Calm and Ramify]

There is something about some of Niel Ryan's trees that I don't enjoy.

The guy's name is Ryan Neil.

[delisea]

There is something about some of Niel Ryan's trees that I don't enjoy.

The guy's name is Ryan Neil.

Fixed

[treeman]

I absolutely wouldn't put the slightest effort into understanding the ''cultural background'' or the ''motivation'' of the ''artist''
Should I be cancelled?

Mike you reveal more than you know with this comment. Good luck, I hope you find what you are looking for.

I know exactly what I ''reveal'' with that comment and I'm not looking for anything, but thanks for the good wishes.

[tgward]

please help-----I'm not really understanding what you mean-- a few good examples of non-cookie cutter bonsai and an explanation of their merits would help

[treeman]

please help-----I'm not really understanding what you mean-- a few good examples of non-cookie cutter bonsai and an explanation of their merits would help

You should specify who you are addressing. I'll assume it's me....
I'm not going through all this again but you can look at this thread (below) and there are quite a few discussions on this topic you can find by searching using some key words such as ''natural bonsai'' etc.
I just wanted to voice my disappointment in the lack of imagination shown by all the stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvR7s9AZTnI

viewtopic.php?f=114&t=24599&p=287010#p287010

[wrcmad]

I absolutely wouldn't put the slightest effort into understanding the ''cultural background'' or the ''motivation'' of the ''artist''

I guess you would have to look into the tea leaves and poetry instead?

[TimS]

Yeah Mauro is like offender #1 for contrived trees IMO

[delisea]

Yeah Mauro is like offender #1 for contrived trees IMO

Yeah, but he makes the perfect Italian trees. Think Rome or just about any Italian city, crumbling ancient buildings and people outrageously well-dressed just to pop down the shops to get some milk. His trees are the same, ancient collected bones and super slick clothes. Perfecto!

[treeman]

I guess you would have to look into the tea leaves and poetry instead?
[/quote]

Nice try, but those points were brought up as poof of how an original idea can be slowly and unperceptibly altered away from all recognition, not as proof of the need to understand cultural backgrounds in order to appreciate the ''natural'' as opposed to the ''artificial''. A perception which requires no culture or understanding of the motivations of others. I guess that subtly will always escape you?

[wrcmad]

Nice try, but those points were brought up as poof of how an original idea can be slowly and unperceptibly altered away from all recognition, not as proof of the need to understand cultural backgrounds in order to appreciate the ''natural'' as opposed to the ''artificial''.

I guess the blind conceity of regarding one's own mere opinion as "proof" will subtly always escape you?

[treeman]

Nice try, but those points were brought up as poof of how an original idea can be slowly and unperceptibly altered away from all recognition, not as proof of the need to understand cultural backgrounds in order to appreciate the ''natural'' as opposed to the ''artificial''.

I guess the blind conceity of regarding one's own mere opinion as "proof" will subtly always escape you?

Conciety? Explain how it's only my opinion rather than an abundantly obvious fact.

[tgward]

please help-----I'm not really understanding what you mean-- a few good examples of non-cookie cutter bonsai and an explanation of their merits would help

You should specify who you are addressing. I'll assume it's me....
I'm not going through all this again but you can look at this thread (below) and there are quite a few discussions on this topic you can find by searching using some key words such as ''natural bonsai'' etc.
I just wanted to voice my disappointment in the lack of imagination shown by all the stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvR7s9AZTnI

viewtopic.php?f=114&t=24599&p=287010#p287010

perhaps a few examples of your own work

[treeman]

perhaps a few examples of your own work

Why?