My Thoughts on this year's Taikan-Ten

dbz12fan

DISCLAIMER: I do not claim to know more than the Japanese on the subject of display and attention to detail when it comes to bonsai, nor do I claim to know more than any other enthusiast in the U.S. I will also note that my comments do not apply to all of the displays at the show, but quite a few.
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While perusing among the rows and rows of bonsai and suiseki displays at this year's Taikan-ten show, I spent a good deal of time looking at the displays and noting both the positive and negative aspects of each. We were fortunate enough to attend the show on the last day that it was open, so there was not too large of a crowd. Due to this stroke of luck, I was able to spend as much time with every display as I wanted. In fact, I found myself lagging far behind the rest of my group.

As I evaluated at these displays, I looked at various things including the overall display, the pot, the tree, the pot/tree combo, the sillhouette, the attention to detail, the soil, the stand, etc. Basically, I examined every aspect that a judge would examine for a competition. This is what I noted:

• A few trees had exposed tie-down wires that crossed the nebari on the front side of the trunk.
• Several more did not have a fresh layer of soil.
• Some pots were not cleaned properly.
• On a few trees, juvenille sprigs of foliage that clearly did not belong had not been pinched.
• Many trees were overpotted, but as I understand, the Japanese have different views on pot/tree ratio than the U.S. does.
• The show had a lack of shohin displays, giving only one row to the 'little guys'.
• The quality of the stones was rather dissappointing. There were a couple, however, that cought my eye.
• The Japanese do not follow the 6 to 1 trunk to height ratio as diligintly as we do. Many trunks were much thicker, but many were also much thinner.
• Overall 3-point displays were effective, but a few had trees and accents that had their backs to each other.

Now, I am not bashing the show, or the quality, age, and value of the trees, pots, stands, stones, and scrolls. I am simply saying that I was rather dissapointed with the displays. Many people from the U.S. idolize the Japanese display, and talk of the U.S. inferiority on the subject. My feeling is that we are not as inferior as many think. We simply do not invest $50,000 on a quality pot for our tree, $10,000 on an intricately carved stand, or $5000 on an accompanying stone or scroll. In my humble opinion, our inferiority on the subject display is simply a financial inferiority due to a lack of enthusiasts who believe only in the highest endeavers of bonsai in the U.S.

I am interested in hearing the opinions of others who attended the show.

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"Success demands understanding"-Andy Rutledge

Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

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bonsaial1

A few trees had exposed tie-down wires that crossed the nebari on the front side of the trunk.
Tie wires and guy wires, if done very neatly and professionally are acceptable in presentation.

Several more did not have a fresh layer of soil.
Many of these trees are exhibited by the owners. They are taken care of my masters and may not be groomed before the show due to time constraints. I would think that someone should prepare the soil, thats pretty easy to do.

Some pots were not cleaned properly.
That would be totally unacceptable.

On a few trees, juvenille sprigs of foliage that clearly did not belong had not been pinched.
You should have just went ahead and pinched it off for them, I'm sure they wouldn't mind

Many trees were overpotted, but as I understand, the Japanese have different views on pot/tree ratio than the U.S. does.
Again, this could be due to the fact that it is trained and worked on by someone else. Alot of these trees are prepared for two years before exhibition, Maybe they just forgot?

The show had a lack of shohin displays, giving only one row to the 'little guys'.
Go back to Japan in January to the Gafu-ten exhibit. This is where the shohin are displayed.

The quality of the stones was rather dissappointing. There were a couple, however, that cought my eye.
Stones in Japan are displayed a little differently than in the USA. While suiseki is very old in Japan, it is rather young in America. Your mental model of what Suiseki is has been distorted by what you are familiar with.

The Japanese do not follow the 6 to 1 trunk to height ratio as diligintly as we do. Many trunks were much thicker, but many were also much thinner.
I hope you didn't whip out your tape measure and start measuring! Ratio's are guidelines and can and should be broken when the material dictates. Again this is from a Western mental model

Overall 3-point displays were effective, but a few had trees and accents that had their backs to each other.
This sounds interesting. Without a foto it is hard to comment on this one. Maybe you could put something together with your trees and give us some insight to this display technique?

Thanks Charles, Bonsai-al

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TreeBay

There is a trend towards not over-prepping pots, particularly antique ones. There are also stories about pots that were "ruined" by cleaning.

BTW, this explanation may not hold up well outside the realm of bonsai, particularly with your spouse during cleanup after the Sunday evening meal, but it's worth a shot if you're tired of scrubbing dishes.

Regards,

Matt

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rockm

I agree that pots being "not cleaned" could mean they were left alone in favor of a "patina" of age. Then again, if there was algae and that kid of thing, then they're just not bothering to clean them, which isn't acceptable.

Old pots can be gravely harmed if they're scrubbed, bleached or subjected to aggressive cleaning. Caution should be double as old pots in Japan can be 400 years old, or older, and worth more than the tree they contain.

As Al said, it's hard to judge the problem without seeing a photo.

dbz12fan

Sorry guys, I did not get a press badge.

__________________
"Success demands understanding"-Andy Rutledge

Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

Bonsainut

CB,
Nice Report young man "A" material and very astute observations. The pot facts are interesting.

I remember a hearing from one Japanese master at a convention somewhere that some people put trees of very high value and importance in Japan in larger pots out of a sense of respect and age. Like saying this is such a cool old tree that is doesn't even have to fit in the ideal size pot.

As to cleanliness I can't Imagine with all the great labor and expense they go thru that they would neglect to clean the pots. It must be intentional, don't you think. We sure could use a Japanese master on here once in a while.

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