Twin bunjin blacks

[Steven]

Just to add to the discussion, here is a 'similar' tree I found on Walter Palls Travelogue. It was displayed at the EBA Convention 2011 in Ratingen, Germany.

Juniper from WP blog.jpg

Regards,
Steven

[bonsaiboy50]

Hi Gerard, I just have a question about the painting in the picture. I purchased a smaller version of this in an antique shop a couple of years ago and just love it. Do you know who painted it and when?. I would be most interested to know more about this painting.
Many thanks Bonsaiboy

[Gerard]

I know that the original picture is in a gallery somewhere in Japan. I believe it is often included in bonsai tourism agendas.
The picture in the display is produced by needlework and is based on the original. It was purchased in Kyoto more than 10 years ago and was used as a template for the bonsai planting displayed.

The pot is an original made by the grower many years ago when he dabbled in pottery. I agree that it is not the ideal pot, but it is "his pot". I think a smaller round pot with the tree raised higher and some moss around the roots would be more traditional.

The choice of stand was a surprise to me, as Pup suggests a slab would have been nice.

The picture was not meant to be part of a bonsai display (as a scroll might be used) but simply to tell people from where the inspiration had come.
Positioning this picture was a problem, there were no picture hooks in the rented hall.

[Jow]

I believe the oroginal picture is by hokusai, although i may be wrong.

HERE

[63pmp]

Hi Steven,

I wonder where Walter gets all his trees from, it seems like a never ending supply of interesting plants. It looks to me like two of the trunks are connected, the right and middle trunks. But the important issue is that the crossing is subtle and doesn't hold or draw ones attention too much. There is enough drama in the branches and canopy to keep ones attention away from the bottom left hand corner.

Ken

I think any tree that is put on public display is open to critique, but my intent was not really to overly criticize the tree, or the fact it has a crossing trunk, but to understand the criteria for exhibiting trees in Australia. It seems that just about anything in a pot is welcome, whether it has merit or not. I didn't attend the show so perhaps the context of where it was displayed was missing, if it was away from the general show in an area for new progressive styling/presentation, or avante garde trees fine. But if in the general part of the show with Japanese style presentation, then, not so good.

Regarding the maple critique, I'm not sure if entering a private garden/nursery, even with invitation, taking a photo and putting it up on a forum counts as being on public display. I missed that whole shebang, and looking at it now I'm glad I did.


Regards

Paul

[Andrew E]

I must say that I regard this literati plus the painting more as a curiosity, that is as an example of bonsai origin and -history, of interest for the general public. As such, the juxtaposition of painting and trees doesn't disturb me.
And apart from that, I find this literati composition quite beautiful.

Lisa

Got to agree here. Definitely a curiosity rather than an attempt to create 'styled' bonsai as we understand it. It reminds me of how the chinese would style trees into odd shapes, including kanji symbols. More of an interest piece for discussion and how it has!!

"I think any tree that is put on public display is open to critique, but my intent was not really to overly criticize the tree, or the fact it has a crossing trunk, but to understand the criteria for exhibiting trees in Australia. It seems that just about anything in a pot is welcome, whether it has merit or not."

Very good point Paul. Whilst watching a Ryan Neil critique of a bonsai show in the states, he makes that same point. Is everything worthy just because it a tree in a pot? In Oz we definitely promote and encourage newcomers to display their trees. Whilst good for the newbie it does diminish the quality of the overall show. At some shows we should only be displaying trees that are show worthy. But club shows are different in that the whole club needs to be involved if possible. I know at the Central Coast show we have a section for those trees still in development, seperating those trees from the main body of the show.

Certainly western shows are different to the Japanese shows. Is this a bad or good thing? We don't have the amount of quality trees to come close to a big Japan show so does that entitle us to be a little different?

Would the Japanese of displayed this tree? I don't think so but perhaps our wow factor comes from clever extras to promote discussion? Like this one!


Andrew

[Andrew E]

Forgot to add that I quite like it.

Andrew

[Gerard]

I have learnt something,
If I can quote directly from John Naka's Bonsai techniques II, page 139.

This woodblock print is one of the 53 Tokaido stations by the famous artist Hiroshige, in which he expresses his graphic techniques of scenes and interesting trees. The trunks are crossed which is considered not right for bonsai, but since there is some distance between the trees, it creates depth and the two trees tie in together. If the trunks were closer and crossed over it would not be interesting.

Fig 298.jpg

To convert the painting into bonsai use a couple of long spindly black pines. The sharp curves on the trunk can be made by cutting back the main trunk and bringing up a branch, or by notching the trunk.

Fig 299.jpg