I wish!!! No, it isn't "important" or significant. The main concern was respect for the original artist and not being too quick to impose the current taste onto a tree predating that taste.

Joanie

Only the curator of an established public collection has a moral and artistic responsibility to maintain a tree in the same appearance as the artist who originally styled the tree. It is in that collection because it has been judged by others to be something special.

If the tree has been purchased it is like all other things that you "own." You are free to do as you choose. Its your property. If you buy a house, no one expects you not to paint it a different color. If you buy a classic car you are free to chop it and put on fancy wheels as you choose. Now then....If I bought one of John Naka's tree, would I change it? Absolutely not. But I have redesigned other peoples trees quite often... heck,... I have even completely redesigned several of my own "priceless masterpieces" after living with them for a few years. I guess it kinds of depends upon how you feel about the person you acquired it from.

Maybe a redesign and update is what it will take to truly make this a "Joanie" tree.

Reading through the previous posts I kept thinking "What about Joanie?" What about her influence on the tree. Bonsai is a fluid artform, and the tree will inevitably change based on the current owners care and vision for the tree. I think a redesign can be an honour to the previous owner if it shows the tree in a new, and hopefully better light.

This raises a question for me. Will this new tree (to Joanie) always be someone elses design... or will this someday become a "Joanie" tree? Does it take a redesign to make a tree your own? or is there a time frame when you can call a tree your own? When is an inherited and/ or bought tree truly yours?

Matt

My first thought is, did you buy it with the intention of changing it? Or what was your motivation to buy it? Something must have drawn you to it to start with.
Often times I have looked at a tree that has been owned by one of "merit" and had my own thoughts as to how it "should" be styled or how to "better" its beauty.

It is a very subjective choice to make. I for one believe that to truly make it my own tree, I would "put my mark" on it even if ever so slightly, but only to better such a tree.

My first impression of the tree was... "finally, something worth having, a tree that doesn't look like it still has the nursery price stuck on it somewhere!" But if you had asked me at that moment, I would not have been considering restyling. I was honored and thrilled to have such a great tree.

Upon getting it home, the actual shape of the tree started to sink in. It took a while to consider what it could use to make it better. Then it began to sink in that if I restyled the tree, it might take years to get back up to a high standard. The whole top needs to come off, it needs much in the way of smaller branches. No work has been done on secondary branching, it has been treated like a pine. So it looks like an oak dressed up as a pine. It will never look like a naturalistic oak, but it could use a spreading canopy and more branching all over, and a reduction in height. That's going to be a long journey.

However, as I said in the original post, this isn't about one tree. It's about the issue of caretaking. It should always be carefully considered, when changing something from the past that another person created. Never take it lightly, because someday you may regret what you have done. You can't change it back.

He isn't John Naka, but he is one of the original students of Naka. And he is worthy of respect in his own right. So I will respect him by gradually changing his tree so that it can be healthy and strong, and so that its form slowly reflects a more natural habit, while still echoing his touch. It will always be a lovely tree in my eyes, with a history and with a future.

Joanie

Joanie:

When will you... if ever... call this your tree?

Joanie, it would be great to see pics of this tree we have been speaking about.

Or maybe an ongoing post of its progress as you make those changes.

Hector

Yes, yes, quit TEASING us!

pootsie

Matt, there are plenty of trees out there that will be all mine. Trees that have no past, they are growing right now, they are blank canvases. They only need time.

But for this tree, that does have a history and an original artist, it will never really be mine. It will be influenced, perhaps.... it will grow in a different way than anyone else's touch would grow it. And I will be influenced by it, as well. It will retain a little of the awe, a little of the glamour... a sense of continuity that gives a different satisfaction.


Everyone's comments are very appreciated, and it is good to know that working on and restyling a tree is not wrong, nor looked down upon. Bonsai are living and changing art, and the owner is allowed to influence and shape the tree. Unlike static art, or historical buildings, bonsai must change to some extent because the only bonsai that is finished, is a dead one.

Joanie