Just wanted to share

Chopsie · Oct 22, 2017

Hi all

Today I visited a show, The display as far as I'm concerned was incredible...
It was my favourite of the day
I thought you may like to see

0soyoung · Oct 22, 2017

Very nice, indeed.

My immediate emotional reaction was wanting to turn the pine 180.

Velodog2 · Oct 22, 2017

0soyoung said:
Very nice, indeed.

My immediate emotional reaction was wanting to turn the pine 180.

To make it point inward toward the other trees?

The trees seem to just barely fit in the display, but each is incredible on its own, except maybe for that first branch on the pine, but that’s nitpicking.

Smoke · Oct 22, 2017

Nice trees individually but very hard to put into a display. This kind of display apparatus does not allow for the visual separation
of the species. The maple separating the pine and juniper is visually out of place. This where a box stand can help. The pine is wrong on this stand and points out of the stand. The maple too would benefit from a 180 turn also. the stand is very nicely made and looks well with the trees, but is an example in the difficulty of displaying groups of trees with a lack of suitable trees and stands. Putting a display such as this together properly ids so very difficult. I lack all the accoutrements to do this properly, so have refrained from jumping into the arena

As an aside all the pots in this display look great with the trees, but the pot on the zelcova is missing something and the whole display lacks the sparkle of a range of colors. The Koyo under the maple is extraordinary but the pot under the zelcova needs to be shallower and not so drab. This shallow yellow pot would help with the overall feeling in the display.

Rambles · Oct 22, 2017

0soyoung said:
Very nice, indeed.

My immediate emotional reaction was wanting to turn the pine 180.

Mine was to swap the evergeens, so the coarser pine with masculine pot was closer to earth, while the asymmetric and rounded forms of the juniper seemed to drift away from the display up above, which (to me at least) would draw the eye up and across all four trees more effectively.

Unless there is a tradition/prescribed reason this shouldn't be the case?

0soyoung · Oct 22, 2017

Rambles said:
Mine was to swap the evergeens, so the coarser pine with masculine pot was closer to earth, while the asymmetric and rounded forms of the juniper seemed to drift away from the display up above, which (to me at least) would draw the eye up and across all four trees more effectively.

Unless there is a tradition/prescribed reason this shouldn't be the case?

My limited understanding is that the stand represents a mountain (e.g., Mt. Fuji). A pine is always on the top position and so the other species positions. The motion of each is to evoke the comfort of an embrace (i.e., toward the center) and not be received as running away and/or trying to escape. All very similar to the design principles for a single tree, as I've come tho understand them after many years of struggling with why is this good and that isn't in bonsai. For me the bonsai I love in person all remind me (as a child) of the posture of an elder offering to embrace me.

And with that I fear finding out I still haven't a clue.

Smoke · Oct 22, 2017

In my stupid opinion, I think this display could have benefitted from removing one tree. Shinzi Suzuki told me at the 2003 Fresno convention in which I first displayed a group of shohin that just because your stand has five places for a tree doesn’t mean you need to fill them. Sometimes a small water pool stone or hut stone of figure stone can be used. Not a mountain stone since the stand represents the mountain. A kusamono also can be used in one of the spaces but always at the bottom since the lowest most shelves rep the earth. The number four should be avoided anyway. When I sit tonight and watch TV I look at the image in my phone and take it in with squinted eyes. What I see is an “X” with the two conifers and the two deciduous. It is distracting for me.

Chopsie · Oct 22, 2017

I suppose my ignorance to Displays was bliss
I just liked the trees I thought they were all excellent, the trident is outstanding

Smoke · Oct 23, 2017

Chopsie said:
I suppose my ignorance to Displays was bliss
I just liked the trees I thought they were all excellent, the trident is outstanding

Please don't misunderstand. There trees are gorgeous. Anyone with half a brain would die to own one. On their own they each represent the pinnacle of their form. If the object of box display was to put together a group of trees on a stand to show each one than this nails it.

If the object is to show the trees according to some rules or guidelines of display then this falls a little short and in some cases just wrong. I know the heartbreak of not having the perfect tree for each shelf, showing the front with the correct direction. Sometimes liberties must be taken and this is one of those times. It does not take away from the individual mastery of each tree.

Chopsie · Oct 23, 2017

I thank you for your explanation buddy
Showing trees is something I’ve never done so it’s good to hear the reasons why it was not quite to liking
For me with my lack of insight I found it wonderful but I admit openly to knowing nothing about the subject
Thank you again

Smoke · Oct 23, 2017

When we display inanimate objects as a group, the display is seen as a whole without regard to rules. The stand is seen as an object for holding the objects and nothing more. We look at the objects and are content with their role on the stand.

When we display living trees, rules of display have been developed for such a task with high elevations on the stand being reserved for conifers working our was down to the meadow and river. The trees also should speak to each other by bowing to each other. Look at the tea pots above. Even in this display the teapots would benefit from a better arrangement. The pots on the right and turned the same way with spout in. The pots on the left are willy nilly with some spouts right and some left. It could be cleaned up and made to look better.

Anthony · Oct 23, 2017

Trees ---------- yes !!!!!!!!!!!!

This nonsense of display stands ------ no

For men ------ too effeminate
Good Day
Anthony

BigBen · Oct 23, 2017

Outstanding trees, thanks for sharing them.

TomB · Oct 23, 2017

Smoke said:
Please don't misunderstand. There trees are gorgeous. Anyone with half a brain would die to own one. On their own they each represent the pinnacle of their form. If the object of box display was to put together a group of trees on a stand to show each one than this nails it.

If the object is to show the trees according to some rules or guidelines of display then this falls a little short and in some cases just wrong. I know the heartbreak of not having the perfect tree for each shelf, showing the front with the correct direction. Sometimes liberties must be taken and this is one of those times. It does not take away from the individual mastery of each tree.

FWIW, this grouping of trees was actually the centrepiece of a much larger club display, and was a collaboration between two club members, so there are inevitable compromises. The trees (and pots) look even better when you see them in reality; the conditions in the hall weren't ideal for photography (not a criticism of your picture Chopsie).

just.wing.it · Oct 23, 2017

Nice looking, I didn't read all the above reply's, but I wanted to ask about the stands on the stand....3 trees have a little stand under them and one doesn't...
I also think that the two on top should be turned around so they move inward....
Also, is it strange to see 4???
I thought the Japanese had some weird thing about the number 4....could be mistaken....

bonsaichile · Oct 23, 2017

Anthony said:
For men ------ too effeminate
Good Day
Anthony

You are an idiot

just.wing.it · Oct 23, 2017

Anthony said:
Trees ---------- yes !!!!!!!!!!!!

This nonsense of display stands ------ no

For men ------ too effeminate
Good Day
Anthony

It's in transition...

Chopsie · Oct 23, 2017

TomB said:
FWIW, this grouping of trees was actually the centrepiece of a much larger club display, and was a collaboration between two club members, so there are inevitable compromises. The trees (and pots) look even better when you see them in reality; the conditions in the hall weren't ideal for photography (not a criticism of your picture Chopsie).

Hi Tom
I was unaware of the facts so thank you, I just honestly thought people would appreciate the trees hence me sharing
It’s was a nice show and I enjoyed myself

M. Frary · Oct 23, 2017

Chopsie said:
Hi Tom
I was unaware of the facts so thank you, I just honestly thought people would appreciate the trees hence me sharing
It’s was a nice show and I enjoyed myself

I'm like you. Nice trees. Very nice and worth sharing.
I don't know crap about display apparently because I think it looks good.
Hell,if they were mine I would give each their own display separately. That's how much I know about the subject and when it comes time for me to show trees it's how I'll do it.

just.wing.it · Oct 23, 2017

M. Frary said:
I'm like you. Nice trees. Very nice and worth sharing.
I don't know crap about display apparently because I think it looks good.
Hell,if they were mine I would give each their own display separately. That's how much I know about the subject and when it comes time for me to show trees it's how I'll do it.

I like one tree and one accent plant is OK...but I find the multi point shohin displays to be very nice, but each tree distracts from the other trees, in my eyes...
One tree alone is more majestic and gives you the chance to really appreciate that tree...
Although, shohin sized trees are my favorite.

Just wanted to share

Shohin

Imperial Masterpiece

Chumono

Ignore-Amus

Mame

Imperial Masterpiece

Ignore-Amus

Shohin

Ignore-Amus

Shohin

Ignore-Amus

Imperial Masterpiece

Shohin

Omono

Deadwood Head

Omono

Deadwood Head

Shohin

Bonsai Godzilla

Deadwood Head

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