In 1978, there was a bonsai exhibit at a garden center near his home in Munich, Germany. Walter found bonsai to be amazing and really impossible. He says, "I was always intrigued by things impossible and started to do bonsai."

He was solely inspired by the trees themselves. Today his greatest inspiration comes from the great trees in nature.

At that time, there was no mentioning of the names of the bonsai artists. Walter picked up as much information here and there and anywhere that he could. He soon found that many people did not know what they were talking about. The most valuable information he has learned was from John Naka's and Peter Adam's books. He adds, "I have not studied under someone. I never ever had a workshop in my life."

""I have not studied under someone. I never ever had a workshop in my life.""

Around 1980, he collected his first trees, they were European Larches (Larix deciduas). He states, "I did not know at that time that I was a pioneer." He was a pioneer because no one else (in Europe) was collecting trees from the wild. "I did though, because I read in a book that this was what the Japanese had done. I grew up in the Alps and knew where the right trees could be found." He does not have any of these anymore. He struggled with getting the forms that were in the books and decided to let the tree decide.

Soon all of Walter's thoughts and actions were circled around bonsai. Because of this he felt that he was not useful anymore for honest work.

Walter does not have a specific species of tree that is his favorite. He says, "I work with all species." He loves to work with collected species from Europe and America alike. Whether they are conifer or non-conifer. Although his favorite place to collect is south of Munich, Germany.

Walter is not fond of the western traditional or neoclassical style of trees. Walter explains "Because it has become so stereotype that every tree looks just like the other one. In that style bonsai is not really treated as an art form it is treated like a craft. It is not what is called 'traditional' style in Japan nowadays. It is what was traditional style in the late 1950's to mid 1960's. Thus it is a retro style and not cutting edge bonsai art." Walter believes that this traditional and even some modern styles look too abstract. "The abstraction seems to become even more so than it used to." Abstract trees look sterile and without life. He prefers the naturalistic style of tree in any and all forms because it looks real. He adds, "I think that abstraction in bonsai often is way overdone and I have seen so much of it that I now want to see something radically different." He does what the tree wants to do. "I use the word style for the general feeling and the word form for the outline of the tree."

""I think that abstraction in bonsai often is way overdone and I have seen so much of it that I now want to see something radically different.""

If there was one thing that Walter would like you to take home with you from one of his lectures or demonstrations it would be, "Do not try to make your tree look like a bonsai, but rather make your bonsai look like a tree; as John Naka said."

Walter writes articles for many bonsai publications and states that he likes all of them. Walter would really like to see bonsai be treated as an art rather than as a craft. He wishes there were more tolerance in the bonsai world. "Tolerance for people who are not willing to do it the old way anymore. But also tolerance for people who DO want to do it the traditional way. Tolerance for all levels of skill and all different species from different regions. Tolerance for amateurs and tolerance for professionals." He adds, "Take penjing for example. We (me included) have acquired a Japanese taste for bonsai. According to this taste by and large what is called 'penjing' is not in good taste most of the time. Are you telling me that one billion Chinese ALL have bad taste? Or is it just different? Can we not agree that since a bonsai taste is an acquired taste it can also change. Can we not agree that there is no such thing as 'good' or 'bad' in art really?"

""Do not try to make your tree look like a bonsai, but rather make your bonsai look like a tree; as John Naka said.""

He hates any bonsai fundamentalists and says, "It would not be worth my time." Because of their know-it-all attitudes, no one can discuss different options with them. "They treat bonsai as a craft while maybe saying that it is an art form; because they insist to keep the status quo and undermine every progress; because they are terribly afraid that someone pulls the carpet out from underneath their feet and thus fight ruthlessly." In addition, he adds, "If they really had the say I would stop bonsai immediately."

If you ever have a chance see to Walter in action during a demonstration or lecture, please do not hesitate. You will not be disappointed with his energy and knowledge. He may even open your eyes to the world of bonsai.

To see some of Walter's work click here
-Paul

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And thanks to you Paul for posting your interview with Walter.

My pleasure!

Thank you Paul and Joanie, sounds fine to me.

' Peter Chan's books' should be changed to Peter Adam's books.
Peter Adams was the bonsai king in Euorope in the 1980ies

What an inspiring interview! Thank you, Paul and Walter!!

Joanie

Walter,
I am glad that you approve of my writting.
Thanks for pointing out the typo, my fault.
And
Thanks again Walter for anwsering my questions and being an insperation to many of us.
-Paul

The more I learn about Walter,the more parallels I see to my own bonsai path.Walter is just further down the road than I.We are both self taught,and we both have our own iconoclastic approach,based more upon trees in nature,more than on "accepted","classical" styles.I first learned of Walter ,in a Bonsai Today article,after I had been doing this stuff about four years,and knew I had found a kindred spirit,and perhaps a role model. YOU GO BOY!

Bonsainotwar, do you have any pictures of your previous trees? Your hints are intriguing!

Joanie

Paul,

Thanks for posting this great article. I was fortunate enough to hear Walter speak in Portland, and found the talk very enlightening, entertaining and inspirational. I was not able to attend a workshop session, but will certainly try to when he is back.

-Darrell

Thanks Paul. Joanie and Walter!

Regards,

Matt