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Originally Posted by Wattlebird
By contrast, a painter would start a painting to tell a story or comment on society... that's rare-ish in bonsai, isn't it?
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Anyone who has ever seen a Jackson Pollack or Mark Rothko painting would probably have to consider that it is (at the very least) possible that the only comment either one of them were making is: "I can't paint".
While many pieces that do seem to tell stories or make comments are considered art, many that do not are also readily accepted. There is no requirement that a story be told or comment be made in order to classify something as art. Expressionists never even attempt this concept with abstracts in my estimation and the same hold true with the subject matter of many photographers.
Bonsai on the other hand often can and does embrace the telling of a story very dramatically. In my view, root over rock and windswept styles are two very compelling examples.
Cheers,
_gonzo_