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Wierdowl,

It is not enough to merely copy nature with bonsai. There is a human element to the art form. That is the easthetic judgement of man. Far from accidental, this aesthetic appreciation follows certain patterns and rules. They may not all be static and easy to identify, but they do effect how poeple appreciate beauty. Programmed into poeple is an appreciation for certain proportions, etc. Since bonsai is made for human enjoyment, it can greatly benefit from teh application of conventions that bring it into alignment with human ideals. Some of these ideals are related to genetic programming designed to encourage reproduction, or discourage injury, but others are developed by society. Either way they are often pervasive and compelling to a viewer without his knowledge.

For example in the Tang dynasty in China (about 500 ad) art began to show women of a more portly nature to be teh desired and attractive norm. Likewise Renaissance art shows an apprestiation for the plump human figure. In the western case this easthetic appreciation may have come about as a reaction to the well fed and obviously healthy nature of a large person in a healthy society. An instinct based reaction. The Chinese example came about more due to symbolic power. The emporer favored a concubine of these proportions and she ammassed a great deal of power at court. Women began to emylate and the popular easthetic appreciation shifted. Either way, we are not talking about the emulation of the natural human form, but teh cultivation of the easthetic human form. Something that benefits from being based on an understanding of the easthetic values of poeple.

Another important feature to the appreciation of bonsai is teh human love of symbols. This exhibits itself in our language and art strongly. We have a drive to devide and define that can be seen easily through any study of philosophy, human thought, and art history. An exact reproduction is not symbolic, but an artistic creation usually is. Bonsai are symbolic of not just a tree, but the tree or the species, or a specific growth habit of a species. They are usually a representation of the artists idea of treeness.

A few thoughts

D.S.

20-Dec-2002	#120
Zuishi bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Jul-2002 Location: Spokane Wa Posts: 25	Wierdowl, It is not enough to merely copy nature with bonsai. There is a human element to the art form. That is the easthetic judgement of man. Far from accidental, this aesthetic appreciation follows certain patterns and rules. They may not all be static and easy to identify, but they do effect how poeple appreciate beauty. Programmed into poeple is an appreciation for certain proportions, etc. Since bonsai is made for human enjoyment, it can greatly benefit from teh application of conventions that bring it into alignment with human ideals. Some of these ideals are related to genetic programming designed to encourage reproduction, or discourage injury, but others are developed by society. Either way they are often pervasive and compelling to a viewer without his knowledge. For example in the Tang dynasty in China (about 500 ad) art began to show women of a more portly nature to be teh desired and attractive norm. Likewise Renaissance art shows an apprestiation for the plump human figure. In the western case this easthetic appreciation may have come about as a reaction to the well fed and obviously healthy nature of a large person in a healthy society. An instinct based reaction. The Chinese example came about more due to symbolic power. The emporer favored a concubine of these proportions and she ammassed a great deal of power at court. Women began to emylate and the popular easthetic appreciation shifted. Either way, we are not talking about the emulation of the natural human form, but teh cultivation of the easthetic human form. Something that benefits from being based on an understanding of the easthetic values of poeple. Another important feature to the appreciation of bonsai is teh human love of symbols. This exhibits itself in our language and art strongly. We have a drive to devide and define that can be seen easily through any study of philosophy, human thought, and art history. An exact reproduction is not symbolic, but an artistic creation usually is. Bonsai are symbolic of not just a tree, but the tree or the species, or a specific growth habit of a species. They are usually a representation of the artists idea of treeness. A few thoughts D.S.