The Art of Bonsai Project

We are please to announce the winners of the World Bonsai Convention 2009 - Bonsai Olympics Photo Contest.

Separating the entries into the categories of the contest and then adding the scores of our three judges together for each entry gave us the total score of each entry. We then divided this total score by three (the number of judges) to get the average total score. The entries with the highest total average scores were determined to be the winners.

The judges original judging sheets and the final scoring sheet which combines all the judges scores together are attached below to maintain transparency.

Please take a moment today and help us thank all of the judges and entrants that made this contest possible.

And the winners are..

Best Conifer Entry

Walter Pall, Germany
Ezo spruce (Picea jezoensis)
Height: 26 in, 65 cm
Pot: Natural stone from Germany

Judge Dan Barton scored 9
Judge Nick Lenz scored 8
Judge Michael Persiano scored 9
Total score 26
Total average score 8.66

Judge Comments:

DB - "Beautiful tree, well proportioned • nice landscape arrangement but grasses out of proportion to rest of design • nice slab"
NL - "A very pleasing Gestalt, although it is difficult to make out any of the branching detail. The grasses look silly. Those climbing roots on the left could use some mimicking stones to justify the rise from the trunk."
MP - "This is an example of where Walt is able to balance natural with bonsai art. This is well done."


Best Deciduous Entry

Walter Pall, Germany
Trident Maple [i](Acer burgerianum)
Height: 20 in, 50 cm
Pot: Derek Aspinall

Judge Dan Barton scored 8
Judge Nick Lenz scored 9
Judge Michael Persiano scored 10
Total score 27
Total average score 9

Judge Comments:

DB - "Powerful trunk but branches disproportionately thin • excellent choice of pot • excellent nebari • nice display stand"
NL - "Hah! Godzilla at the opera. Who knows what branching pattern lurks behind the perfectly colored canopy of autumnal warmth. It is pleasing to observe some fine new roots at the periphery of the trunk. The container, while most attractive in subtlety, has become too small for the brute. I may have come across this beast at the Ghent show and commented to my students that the branch structure was Japanese perfect and mundane. Should it convey a story, it would have to be one of volcanic eruption."
MP - "Magnificent…a master piece."


Best Fruit and Flower Entry

Luisa de Alfaro, Valencia, Venezuela
Bria [i](?)
Height: 27.16 in, 69 cm
Pot: Chinese

Judge Dan Barton scored 9
Judge Nick Lenz scored 10
Judge Michael Persiano scored 10
Total score 29
Total average score 9.66

Judge Comments:

DB - "Beautiful arrangement and well placed trunks • pot is a good shape and size but miserable colour!! • not much evidence of flowers"
NL - "A beautifully designed and naturalistic looking “Demon’s Leap” planting. I admire the way all the trees work together in leading the eye up to the edge. The rock and trees are beautifully grounded in a sliver of a container."
MP - "Haunting and powerful!"


Best Shohin Entry

Karim Alfaro, Valencia, Venezuela
Premna (?)
Height: 9 in, 24 cm
Pot: Chinese

Judge Dan Barton scored 9
Judge Nick Lenz scored 9
Judge Michael Persiano scored 10
Total score 28
Total average score 9.33

Judge Comments:

DB - "Excellently structured tree but dreadful choice of pot — too macho and slightly too big for tree • excellent secondary branches"
NL - "A powerful and well-framed tree. It is difficult to imagine it not being huge."
MP - "This tree accomplishes the bonsai illusion. Branch selection is meticulously executed and maintained. The taper allows the viewer to believe this is a towering monster."


Best Tropical Entry

Nacho Marin, Venezuela
Brazilian Rain Tree (Pitecellobium Tortum)
Height: 39 in, 100 cm
Pot: Nacho Marin

Judge Dan Barton scored 9
Judge Nick Lenz scored 10
Judge Michael Persiano scored 10
Total score 29
Total average score 9.66

Judge Comments:

DB - "Good overall shape with excellently defined foliage • carving a little unnatural • fascinating pot if a bit bland in shape but nevertheless sets the tree off well."
NL - "This is an exquisite bonsai in every detail. It has been a pleasure to view it if only in a pic."
MP - "A masterpiece. The carving is convincingly integrated into the natural characteristics of the tree. The branch selection and positioning is extremely well executed."

Heather Hartman will be attaching scores for all the entries, as well as all the judges comments in the entry threads later today.

Attached below is the contest documentation.

I am particularly happy with the choice of winning trees. The winners in the conifer, deciduous, tropical and shohin category were my top choices too. In the flowers category the winner picked by the judges was of an excellent design. However it was not my choice in this category as there were'nt many visible flowers on it.

Overall a very very satisfying contest and my congratulations to all the winners and accolades to all the judges for doing the difficult task of selecting the winners.

Ravi

Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who participated. There were a number of impressive trees, not just those that ended up winning. Thanks to everyone who participated, and the judges for their time and expertise!