Bonsai and religious/ mythology symbolism

JDubinski

Peter,

Thanks for posting that link. I think I have a neat idea of how that would look. I wish I had a scanner.

We'll see how these trees turn out, it will be years before they are completed the way I see them in my mind. Also, if perhaps someone doesn't understand the story I am conveying with one of the trees that I might create, that is okay. Hopefully they can appreciate that they are beautiful. Also, perhaps they might read the title/name of the tree like "Daphne" and wonder why there is a woman trapped inside a Laurel tree and they will look into and find out that it comes from Greek Mythology. Not all art needs to be 'understood' by all its viewers, it can be appreciated for its beauty, for its technique, its story, its history, the emotion, and lots of other things.

Advertisement

Attila

Just two weeks ago I was shopping with my wife at Costco (a warehouse-type store), and in their books section there was this beautiful book about mythologies of the world. As I looked at the paitings and pictures illustrating the subject, I decided to buy the book having in mind that I would love to create bonsai inspired by these stories.
So, I was thinking just like you, when you started this thread.

Vance Wood

To me art is the unincumbered flow of the creative process. It may have some subliminal influences in it from deep held beliefs that will color that flow and determine the final outcome. The difference is in the purpose for doing it. If you desire to make a bonsai reflecting the BaHai faith then your bonsai is going to look contrived and unnatural, the same could be said of other purposeful attempts to contrive a bonsai around a particular predetermined premise. Somewhere in that process something will probably not work well enough to be thought of as natural which is the goal of all good bonsai; to reflect the natural and accidental beauty of nature.

I do believe however if your beliefs are deeply held they will find a way to express themselves in the art you do. There is another point here to consider and this is not pointed at anyone for any reason it is simply my understanding of human nature. Some find bonsai such a relaxing and positive thing in their lives that they feel somehow guilty that maybe God might not approve of this new found love. Some of these people may think they will gain God's approval by doing Godly bonsai. Just a thought and not a condemnation.

__________________
The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa

Attila

That's certainly a key ingredient to create original art. The power of one's passion and belief in something.

On the other hand, look at the paintings of the middle ages, where more than half of masterpieces had a religious/christian theme. How many Nativity or Ascension themes have we seen. Probably each artist has one.

Could the same thing be done in bonsai? Theoretically, yes. Practically, that's a big question mark, so far nobody has the courage. The first thing coming out of the bonsai police's mouth would be: "it's against the rules", or "this is not really bonsai".

Vance Wood

I think there is fundamentally quite a bit of difference between a painting of the Nativity scene, which is the subject and focus of every thing the artist has set out to accomplish, and a bonsai which is trying to be two things at the same time. As far as bonsai is concerned there is the concept of commitment which would have to be totally skirted on this one. A bonsai is a bonsai, good, bad, or mediocre it is first understood to be a bonsai. I have no clue how you would make a Nativity scene out of a bonsai but if it were possible I would wager that the Nativity Police would cry foul and the bonsai police would cry Kit ch. It might be possible to make a Noah's Ark bonsai but it might look more whimsy than serious bonsai.

__________________
The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa

Attila

I agree with you, bonsai has too many limitations and constrains, which other art forms don't. In light of these limitations, a bonsai artist has an almost insurmountable challenge to somehow suggest a theme that has little to do with actual trees.

For instance, a story, such as The Family Tree, Tree of Life, Tree of Knowledge, or even Robin Hood and the Sherwood Forest (with its oaks) may be easier to "translate" into bonsai. Others may be almost impossible.

(Winnie the Pooh and the Hundred Acre Wood, on the other hand, can be a great inspiration )

Attila

Here is the solution:

Instead of bonsai, one may think about mastering the art of Chinese Penjing. It's much more free-form, it allows (even better: encourages) the use of figurines, and has almost no rules, except the rule of "good taste".

Once the use of figurines and accessories is allowed, the whole game changes: all of a sudden, you can tell any story. Of course, it is best to use as little accessories as possible, in order to let the trees take the front stage.
(by the way, this is what Nick Lenz does, when he feels like telling a story: use anything from old horseshoes to discarded plastic dolls).

And, by the way, the Chinese do use Penjing to tell such stories, see the story of Seven Sages in the Bamboo Grove.

Japanese bonsai is too austere and minimalistic for the above, unlike Penjing.

So now, the challenge becomes the creation of masterful and innovative bonsai lanscapes, and a very discrete use of good quality accessories.

Penjing is regarded by many bonsai purists as low-brow, or we may call it "popular art" (as opposed to fine art). Just the way popular music relates to classical music.

But, so what?
I actually have a pretty good excuse: I can do it for my 4 year-old son. I already use him as an excuse to go to the movies to see the latest Disney cartoons, since I love cartoons myself (one of the advantages of having children: you can become a child again yourself, without looking silly).

grampz

Mr. Attila,

I just want to take a moment to thank you for the above post...This is by far the best post I have seen on this forum in quite some time...As long as we continue to 'limit' ourselves to only accept one form of 'artistic potted trees, we will always be finding ourselves falling short of the freedom to create...

Regards
Behr

__________________
As the Master departed the workshop,
he could have sworn he heard some
one saying rather loudly...
"I thought he would never leave"
San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.

boomy_power

Little change in topic (my apologies)
But I reckon Tolkiens Forests in 'the Lord of the Rings' are awe-inspiring.
From what I know, some trees (according to the Ent Treebeard in the novel) have dates back to the First Age the "Old World" of Middle Earth...the First Age to the end of the Third Age spans over 14,000 years!!

Imagine the character of those trees! Their mysterious power, their archaic past...

Trying to capture the image of a tree that is ravaged by ancientness and the changing world world without the mechanisation of industrialisation. A tree that has bears the burdens of Middle Earth.

There are certainly no limits to the Tolkiens trees and forests, why, one can create an Ent with two trees that are twisted together, all gnarled and the nebari are the Ents' toes and you can have some nebari grown over a dead Orc like as though the Ent has destroyed it...an expression of the Ents' hate for axe wielding Orcs perhaps?
and Treebeard (Treebeard on Bonsaitalk ) ceated an absolutely awesome Hobbit Hole landscape.
Goodness, I can sculpt the city of Minas Tirith out of limestone, create some form of drainage and plant the White Tree of Gondor right on top! (in proportion of course!)

Just my little rabble and two cents on LOTR trees

I don't really mind too much on rules, just so long as I can still have freedom and step outside the boundaries, thats all that matters. I like the Japanese Style for its neatness and the "free-form" ways cause I can absolutely pour out my insane imagination.

__________________
To be definitely honest, I prefer Bonsai over video games...
Melbourne, Australia, Its SUMMER now... the hotness!!