art

pootsie

Treekutter:

Thanks for posting this image, even if it is in the test forum, since it got my creative juices flowing.

So here is my take on "How Come?"

It is my opinion that to create art, one must speak to one's audience of relationships. I also feel that bonsai is an artistic medium best suited to speaking to relationships in or with nature. Bonsai is not so suited to dealing with irony, in my opinion and for others, as well. But all the same, I think that for art to "work," we need to feel the relationships it evokes.

For instance, in choosing a pot for the tree, we are reminded to keep in mind that the relationship between the pot and tree should not conflict with the image the tree presents. As an example, here is an image hotlinked from the Takagi Musuem, where the pot helps to evoke the feeling of the serene meadow where this tree grows. This is not a cliff-dwelling tree, and we would not feel a good realtionhip if this tree were in a cliff-like pot.





On the other hand, here is an image hotlinked from Walter Pall showing strong relationship between tree and pot, but one that evokes feelings that speak to a rugged mountain instead of a serene meadow.





Even when thinking simply of the tree alone, relationships are important. For instance, the relationship between the trunk line and the line of a branch. If it is in conflict, we feel something is amiss with the relationship, and thus with the image as a whole.


Which brings me to your image:


I think this works, but only to a degree. The relationship between the stand and the hanging is clear and strong because of the kinship between the circles.

But how do the circles relate to the olive tree? In part, the hanging evokes the feeling of the moon rising behind the tree, but only to some extent because of the perspective of the small tree and huge moon?

And the other circle? Is it the sun on the other side of the world? A reflection of the moon in the water beside the tree? I'm reaching to feel it. The relationships between the tree and the other elements becomes overshadowed by the too-strong link between the other elements.

But I'm a purist. It is my feeling that the tree is alwasy the focus of a bonsai display, as others also feel. More than one, actually.

So, here are some art/tree combos to think about.

The "Bonsai Elevations" exhibit at Weyerhuaser got a lot of attention recently. IMHO, some of it worked and some didn't.

Here is an image where the artist's stand showed a relationship which worked for me. The tree and stand relate to evoke a cliffside for me.





But this one, IMHO, shows almost no relationship, The tree and stand meet and are introduced, but have nothing to say to each other. But rather than hold an awkward silence between them, the tree retreats as the stand screams.



In this one, there is not much of a relationship, but at least the stand keeps quiet enough that we can clearly hear the tree tell its own story.



For some really "Hammer" bonsai and art combos, check out this gallery
of an exhibit in Germany.


Sometimes, we see bonsai art that shows a whole number of relationships all at once, as with saikei and penjing compositions. Here's a beauty from a BTO interview with Robert Steven, showing a human in relation with nature. It also shows a relationship of humans playing only a small part in relation to the grand design.



Here is another posted our own Candy Shirley, with a Nick Lenz creation showing nature's relationship with the works of mankind:


Imagine my surprise when I went to Marija's website and found nature imitating art!


And then, there's our own Treebeard, who did an excellent job of showingt a relationship between trees in nature and the works of mankind with this one:


So that's my take on bonsai and art.

But that's enough out of me. What do you think?

with love and deep thinking,
pootsie

__________________
p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society