K.A. Rutledge

In all of the bonsai discussion forums, this question comes in various forms: “Why are you so concerned about showing bonsai?” or “Why should I be concerned about showing my trees?” or some other way of phrasing this basic question. It’s an important question and the answer is central to life. Really.

You may be skeptical (I can hear some of you sighing right now). I understand that some of you may not regard the exhibition of bonsai as very important, certainly not important enough that the reasons for doing so would be central to life, right? I expect that if you don’t agree that bonsai exhibition is important, you also don’t regard bonsai as art. If this is so, then I find your view quite logical.


What is important in life?

There is a bit of the film, “Dead Poet’s Society,” that I just love. Robin Williams’ character, a teacher, is trying to impress upon his uninspired students why they should care about poetry. He cites that they may all grow up to become doctors, lawyers, businessmen, etc., and that these are all noble pursuits and necessary in life, but that art, poetry, music, love… “These are what we stay alive for.”

It’s corny, but he’s right! Art is central to our lives. We surround ourselves with it and many of us participate in artistic endeavors as hobbies or vocations. Art is the driving force in some of our lives, but every human being has the innate desire to be creative in some way. Every human being is attracted to beauty. We seek beauty. We are captivated by great beauty, and meaningful beauty most of all. Art, the best art, is meaningful beauty epitomized. One answer to the question above is, art is important in life.


So why show it off? Why? We might as well ask:

Why play music for others?
Why put paintings in a public museum?
Why have art shows?
Why have concerts?
Why make motion pictures?
Why be an actor?
Why be an artist?
Why be a musician?

Can you imagine a world where art was kept private? Can you imagine just how dull our world would be if art was simply a personal activity and there were no venues for artistic display? What if Degas or Matisse or Chopin or Kensett or Anthony Hopkins or Michelangelo or Hank Williams Jr. kept their art private, not allowing others to see their work, not allowing the world to revel in their mastery and joy of creation? What a crummy world that would be!

In such a world, the most developed art form would be the art of suicide.


Please show your bonsai. We should show our bonsai because we then contribute to the beauty and value of life. We allow others to revel in our work and share in our joy. We may be doctors and cashiers and accountants and middle managers, and we have to be to fulfill our obligations and put a roof over our heads. But the beauty that we create should be shared with our fellow enthusiasts and with our fellow human beings. So do your part for the sake of art and life. Give someone else something to stay alive for.

Kind regards,
john doe
wherever, USA

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