In the last post to the razors thread Tony said this:
Quote:
|
You know, I think I see the two different camps that you and Al are in. Your camp says that a certain species ought to be a good representation of that species in nature. Al's camp says that it should be a good representation of how that species has been traditionally treated as bonsai. This same debate has been going on for as long as I remember. I guess I'm in a third camp that says it can be either one or even something different, maybe a slanting style if it has the right roots and trunk. Let me take the chinese elm for example since I know more about them than wild plums. Chinese elm in the wild will grow with straight trunks and in basically a broom or modified broom style. I've seen many good examples of broom style elm in bonsai too. I've also seen very good elm bonsai grown in the informal upright style. Which style is correct? I say neither. I say you should learn the growth habits of the species then apply that to the individual tree. Let the tree tell you what style it want's to be or if it want's to go to the scrap heap. I've never been one who says that a certain species MUST be grown in a certain style. To me that is only placing yourself inside a narrow box, unable to see the big picture.
|
I think the biggest turning point in bonsai evolution is the ability to see "the tree" within the raw stock. Sometimes its the ability to see a better tree in developed stock. That is sometimes the case right here on the forum.
Quote:
|
I say you should learn the growth habits of the species then apply that to the individual tree.
|
This sentance has some merit. But only so far as the initial development of the tree.If the tree is to be a duplicate of the tree as it grows in nature, then by all means style it that way. But, there are artistic ideals that must be met also. A natural tree growing in the field may look wonderful with its natural surroundings but look totaly juvenile and ameturish in a bonsai pot.
Naturalistic bonsai are still a small minority of the currant bonsai vogue, but this is only due to its complexity. Walter Pall's work in this area is a prime example. While his trees "taste" natural the trees follow a recipe that is all "art". Walters Work is far more traditional than many think. If you really study the lines of the trees, you will see that they conform to many Japanese rules of line and form. Many branches are left in the work to give it a natural enough feel, but the correct ones are removed to give it artistic merit. This is the genious part of his work, that makes Walter unique in the field of Natural Bonsai.
Quote:
|
Chinese elm in the wild will grow with straight trunks and in basically a broom or modified broom style. I've seen many good examples of broom style elm in bonsai too. I've also seen very good elm bonsai grown in the informal upright style. Which style is correct? I say neither.
|
Bonsai is not always letting the tree tell you what it wants to be. Sometimes its about thinking out of the box and pushing the envelope to trying something that is unique to the species. Obviously trident maples do not grow like pine trees, and they do not grow with huge oil spill root systems either, but artisticly these trees reach levals that rate them as masterpieces throughout the world. For me personaly, most of the images that make me stand back and look with awe are of trees that would never be seen in nature. I love deadwood designs, which grow in nature, but never have artisticly manicured crowns on them. I love wonderful semi-cascade pines and junipers, which grow in nature, but never have crowns and health like in magnificent bonsai.
Bonsai is an artistic representation of a natural tree. It is an image, an illusion of nature. It is smoke and mirrors that defies the senses. The best bonsai are magicians tricks that have fooled the eye into seeing a far off place in the distant past, or the side of a craggy cliff. We all have to strive to be the magician.
If bonsai is placing a few trees found on the side of the road into pots with no taper and a few scattered branches with no order, then Danny Use is wasting his time scouring Europe looking for plants for the Gingko Awards. There are plenty of bonsai at the local Walmart!
Cheers,
/|\
III Bonsai-al
PS - Wills privit shrunk down and repotted. If this would be shohin size, so be it. The size never really entered my mind. It was the trunk to height ratio that needed the help. Now it works.