Too much?

[Ellen]

Would you have to worry about how it will look in leaf though? I read somewhere that deciduous trees should be displayed in winter.

[anttal63]

I don't know how many of you out there have any experience growing laxiflora hornbeam ? I have had a few of them over the years and let me tell you this tree is an astonishing achievement for this species.I have one here which was grown from seed in the early 80s and it certainly doesn't look like that. I think when critiquing a tree it is very important to understand the species as well as its artistic elements
Craigw

Just when i thought you were gone ???

[Damian Bee]

That's a great comment Craig, one seldom thought about when critiquing as you said.

[Anth]

It's almost a piece of contempory art that peeves the viewer but has value for that very reason
Perhaps that is the angle?

Yes yes, I see many things in my line of work that I can see great talent and artistic vision in but to me they look ugly ,
When things are up for critique ( not just bonsai) we are looking for what we like and dislike about it. Therefore to improve ones opinion on the item you must remove , alter or repair the negative aspects of the item.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.