A comment from another Bonsai Group on an exhibit of Nick Lenz's trees in Montreal is pertinent.
Quote:
|
Nick does not consider the tree he's donated, after more than 6 months, his. This is because he is not caring for them and styling them the way he would.
|
I've been chewing this question over (philosophical questions help me fall asleep.
) and have come to the following conclusions:
1. A demo tree is like the artist's "cartoon": a sketch of how things should go. Finish the plan and it's "yours", but a nod to the artist is needed.
2. Once you have rewired it, for better or worse, it's "yours". Slavish reproduction of the way it was is "painting by the numbers". Still, a nod to the original artist is owed.
3. Since Bonsai are living things, and change on their own, I think Nick's statement hits the nail on the head.
Looking at the two photos of the cascade, the the second (19649) is so different from the first (19647) that it is NOT Kobayashi's. (BTW, I cut nothing between the two photos. Simply took off the wire after 14 months, and let it grow!)