Breaking the Rules

Brent

I rarely post to these art arguments, but I think there is something important that almost everyone is overlooking. What is the context(s) in which rules are broken?

Forgive the simplicity, but beginners break rules because they don't know any better. When it is pointed out to them that their bonsai don't 'work' because they have violated some important artistic concept, the response is often that it is their work and they don't have to follow rules. This is the "We don't need no stinkin' rules" mentality. Fine, I can't see burning up valuable time trying to convince someone with this attitude otherwise.

But there are also the many valid instances where a credible bonsai does seemingly violate these principles and still works. How does this come about? Contrary to popular belief, only very rarely will the artist actually set out to break some rules, like bikers from the bar. No, the rules are broken because some aspect of the raw material makes following the rules impossible. Yet, it is good material, and a basically sound design. In this context the nonconforming aspects must be artistically incorporated into the design. There are endless ways of doing this. Often, the more clever the solution, the more dramatic the result. These solutions require the very highest design skills, skills that don't result from ignoring rules, but rather result from embracing them and knowing them so thoroughly that a more than satisfactory result can be achieved inspite of the literal interpretation of them.

Brent
EvergreenGardenworks.com
see our blog at http://BonsaiNurseryman.typepad.com

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Joanie

Bravo Brent! Standing Ovation!!

Joanie

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RonMartin(deceased)

Amen

bwaynef

Will, I meant no ill-will. I agree with the point you were trying to make.

The only rules I could tell that pertain to the "pine" look are
Trunk:
8 (not conifer specific, but more typical),
branches:
10-ish,14,15,16-ish.

Regarding this:
I think even with those its a bit of interpretation to make that into the pine look. The grafting thing is more typical on conifers. Usually deciduous grafts are so poorly done that they compete for prominence to the point that they're a distraction. I don't disagree that there could (not should) be pads on a deciduous tree. Very rarely are there not three points of focus...but broom breaks a few other rules too. The branch direction (upward, downward) thing has been mentioned before.

The rest I see as pertaining to both deciduous and conifers. I don't believe "rules" create pine-looking trees.

Again, I hold that you should only break rules when the design necessitates it.

WF

ps. Who is our most "accomplished" member anyway?

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Wolfus

*whisper*
I've been anxiously awaiting that answer myself.

D

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MattPenton

In a business class recently we had a discussion about paradigms. Basically the gist of the argument is that someone looking at a design or process with no basic "entrenched" knowledge of the details of the process can often offer a more objective and inovative answer to the problem.

While this may not apply for all newcomers, I think new thought on an old process can offer some great ideas. The rules of bonsai are offered as great guidelines and lend to a very nice tree.

The recent thought that I have been battling with is, where is the American symbolism in Bonsai. We have been doing bonsai for many years in America. Can someone direct me to some truly "American" bonsai. It seems that the rules may be lending a more typical "Asian" feel to trees created in America.

Am I off base on this one?... or am I just a newbie with some interesting ideas?

Thanks for letting me think out loud,

Matt

rockm

"where is the American symbolism in Bonsai. We have been doing bonsai for many years in America. Can someone direct me to some truly "American" bonsai. It seems that the rules may be lending a more typical "Asian" feel to trees created in America."

Where is the Native American perspetice, where is the Italian American or Amish symbolism in bonsai. Might as well ask about those too. Bonsai isn't about national symbolism. It's about natural symbolism, or it's not.

Trying to put some kind of "American" stamp on bonsai is futile. In the end, it all depends on if the bonsai reminds you of a place, a time, or a season, regardless of where you're from. That said, the species used say alot about where a bonsai is from. "American" bonsai can be bald cypress, cedar elm, live oak, California juniper, etc.

The thought that the "rules" lend something "Asian" to bonsai is only incidental. The rules were aimed at making a tiny tree look like a big tree, nothing more really.

Joanie

Matt, we have discussed American Bonsai in the past before you came on the forum. Use the search function and look for "american bonsai style" etc. It's interesting reading.

The lowdown is probably that everyone sees what they want to see. From observing other bonsai folk, and their peripheral interests, I personally suspect that part of the "mystique" is the Asian flavour. At least for many people. They don't want to go their own way, they want to work within the parameters of what charmed them in the first place. Others seem to work hard to create something different... but our Judeo-Christian symbolism, or American vision (or for that matter European vision, or Australian vision) seems to be only an overlay on top of a basic Asian cultural outgrowth.

But you'll get as many answers to this as there are people on this forum....



Joanie

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RedPine

No use trying Matt,they already know everything.

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