What Is Bonsai To You? A Nice Hobby, An Art Or Sport?

Daan Muller

Being new to bonsai I am very eagerly reading up, following internet and trying to grow myself some bonsai tree's of course.

One thing intrigues me, it seems bonsai is more of a sport than a hobby or an art to a some people.

They train their trees to enter them in to competitions. Their trees are judged according a set of rules and maybe they win a price. To me this sums up a sport, not an art. This sport might have some artistic sides to it but so does figure-skating.

In Japan they have taken this one step further already. Trees are a sort of athletes in the bonsai arena. The owners of these tree's don't tend to them themselves. The trees are looked after by caretakers in nursery's and when the owner wants to show off it's tree it tells the caretaker to make it ready for the show. I know of a few other sports that work this way, horse-racing for example.

This doesn't sound like art to me. I know of no other art where one competes in this way. How can art be judged following a set of rules? What might be art to me may seem junk to the next person, such is the nature of a lot of art. Vincent van Gogh couldn't sell more than one painting in his lifetime. His art wasn't recognized as art then. If he would have entered his paintings in a competition he wouldn't have won a thing.

For me bonsai is a nice way to relax. I find joy and wonder in the way these trees grow. It thrills me to see new growth appearing after I have cut back a tree. And I find them pleasing to the eye. Who knows, somewhere in the (distant) future someone might find one my trees art. That would be neat.

What is bonsai to you? A nice hobby, an art or sport?

Advertisement

mkonig

Hi Daan

Interesting thread.

Like you, I find tending to my trees a relaxing and fulfilling antidote to the stresses of my job. Working on my trees also lets me express my creativity (where music and painting have resisted all my attempts ) and to utilise my horticultural knowledge.

I personally like to look at bonsai exhibits purely for the pleasure of seeing the creations of others and for inspiration.
I do not intend to enter my trees for competitions and judging( most are not at that stage anyway) for excactly the reasons you have stated in your post.
I don't believe that a bonsai can be judged by "rules" as only the owner/creator can truly understand the thinking behind the design. There are of course some Masterpieces that have truly universal appeal but i think they are few and far between.

For me bonsai is a rewarding hobby and an opportunity to extend my social life.

Best Regards

Mike

__________________
I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person

spoonman

i put a hobby, but id call it more than that. id like to call it an obsession.im constantly looking at tree's or thinking about it. does anyone else think the same?

__________________
"Little laurel trees, your roots can find
No mountain, yet your leaves extend
Beyond your own world into mine
Perennial wands, unfolding in my thought
The budding evergreen of time."
-Kathleen Raine, The Trees in Tubs

clrosner

I too, voted as a hobbist, but it is an addiction. It sure beats smoking or drinking, well maybe not the latter, but since I have not used any drugs, I can only guess that the fact I can't do without my daily "fix" of "time with my trees", that it is definitely an addiction!

__________________
Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7
arteacher3725@yahoo.com

CHECK OUT MY UPDATED WEBSITE AT[B]:
www.carlrosner.com

Gary Biggs

Daan,

I think of bonsai as a pleasant and relaxing pasttime, except when I am fighting critters and fungi. Killing spider mites is my passion sport.

Gary

__________________
Como gastamos nuestros dias es como gastamos nuestras vidas.

spoonman

lol, some of those little bugs are so quick

__________________
"Little laurel trees, your roots can find
No mountain, yet your leaves extend
Beyond your own world into mine
Perennial wands, unfolding in my thought
The budding evergreen of time."
-Kathleen Raine, The Trees in Tubs

washout03

Bonsai, at least in my eyes, is both art and a hobby. Creating beautiful trees is without a doubt an art. Not just anyone can do it, some artistic talent and vision is needed. The collecting and keeping of these pieces of art in the hobby part. anyway, theres my two cents.
Tom

pdbbonsai

I agree, bonsai is one of my hobbies that lets me create my art (albeit primitive or say in its beginning stages). As is photography and guitar playing, it lets me have an outlet.

Does anyone here besides me, that after a long day of bonsai tasks and such close their eye to go to sleep and all they see are BONSAI Thats me at least 4 times a week. Hows that for an addiction?

Paul

__________________
It is essential to experience all the times and moods of one good place. (Thomas Merton)

BonsaiTalk is one good place. (me)

ChrisM

i agree with Carl. though i voted for the art category, i feel it is a hobby and an addiction as well. i can't get enough. no matter where i am, like spoonman, i look at trees and visualize bonsai, or, if there are no trees where i am, i just think about the ones i have or have seen. i can't wait til my next "fix". its like being a drug addict without the hallucinations.

chris