bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Trees Through Human Eyes: Rutledge On Design

Originally posted by oldmistercrow

>I would say that the aim is more along the lines of "to convey a sense of tree-ness."

Well, yes, of course.

>And so it's little surprise that we see some of these characteristics featuring prominantly in bonsai design. Nonetheless, I would argue that age is not essential.

Actual age, no. Illusion of age? That's the question.

> Perhaps you are familiar with the "towering tree style" of Lingnan-school penjing. Here age seems to play a very minor role - these trees are slender, unscarred, young or at least ageless, reaching for the sky as if [i]"to transcent the vulgar world and to fre oneself of all desires in an effort to attain immortality."

I'm not familiar with that school, but certainly such an image is very evocative. A well-done forest planting with thin, tall, straight trees is also evocative.

>Young trees are marvellous things as well. A 60 year old redwood or sequoia reaches into the sky as if it will never know limitation. A young tree blessed with the good fortune to grow in fertile and mild field fills out into a beautiful dome of foliage. These are aspects of nature, of treeness, to celebrate and for which to strive in our bonsai creations.

Ok, if the point is not an illusion of age, what about the illusion of being established? The kind of thing that a well-formed root base will evoke?

Craig Cowing
Zone 5b+

>All the best,
Old Mister Crow

--

6-Sep-2002	#33
Craig Cowing Recovering Workaholic Join Date: Aug-2002 Location: Orange County NY Country: USA USDA Zone: 6a!!! AHS Heat Zone: 5 Posts: 647	Originally posted by oldmistercrow >I would say that the aim is more along the lines of "to convey a sense of tree-ness." Well, yes, of course. >And so it's little surprise that we see some of these characteristics featuring prominantly in bonsai design. Nonetheless, I would argue that age is not essential. Actual age, no. Illusion of age? That's the question. > Perhaps you are familiar with the "towering tree style" of Lingnan-school penjing. Here age seems to play a very minor role - these trees are slender, unscarred, young or at least ageless, reaching for the sky as if [i]"to transcent the vulgar world and to fre oneself of all desires in an effort to attain immortality." I'm not familiar with that school, but certainly such an image is very evocative. A well-done forest planting with thin, tall, straight trees is also evocative. >Young trees are marvellous things as well. A 60 year old redwood or sequoia reaches into the sky as if it will never know limitation. A young tree blessed with the good fortune to grow in fertile and mild field fills out into a beautiful dome of foliage. These are aspects of nature, of treeness, to celebrate and for which to strive in our bonsai creations. Ok, if the point is not an illusion of age, what about the illusion of being established? The kind of thing that a well-formed root base will evoke? Craig Cowing Zone 5b+ >All the best, Old Mister Crow -- __________________ I'm not finished yet, neither are my trees.