The Art of Bonsai Project

The staff of AoB would like to sincerely thank all those who entered this contest, you have made this a very successful contest indeed! With over 15 pages of submissions consisting of over 200 entries from around the world, you have helped to set a new record for participation in an on-line bonsai contest.
We received entries from AoB members, from many other forums, and from people who do not frequent Internet forums at all.
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Another year has slipped into memory, leaving only faint traces of the passage of time hidden within our trees, where evidence of our skill and talent now mingle with the darker side of the subconscious. The inner personalities of the artist now appear, as they do every year at this time of haunting, to cast far different spells upon those who dare study them.
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One of the most wonderful things about the art of bonsai is that, like other art forms, it can express certain moods, feelings, or impressions to the viewer. Sometimes they can suggest a darker side, a side only glimpsed occasionally on those dark chilly nights around the time called Halloween.
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The World View of Bonsai is a gallery of trees from around the world. It is an ongoing project, bringing a new sequel every year. These trees represent the latest works of talented artists. Beyond the enjoyment of looking at these beautiful trees, the viewer will have a glimpse at the fascinating diversity of species used around the world. The gallery will also serve as a witness to various forms and styles, as well as introducing to the viewer the latest innovations in the art form.
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A member of the All Japan Shohin-Bonsai Association (since 2005), the British Shohin Association (since 2006) and the Danish Bonsai Society (since 1993), Morten was also selected as the European representative to the American Shohin Bonsai Society in 2005. Morten has traveled to Japan to meet the masters of bonsai to learn more about bonsai by discussing aesthetic views of the art and during his latest trip, Morten also produced a TV-program about bonsai.
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In recent years, he has extended his interests to making handcrafted stoneware pots for bonsai with his wife, Cecilia. They market these pots under the business name of 'Esoteric Pots' with a guarantee that no two pots will be the same. His latest endeavors include painting in oils.
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Dan had his first book on bonsai, 'THE BONSAI BOOK', published in 1989 by Ebury Press (it has since been re-printed several times). He is currently working on a second book that will deal mostly with aspects of the aesthetics and philosophy of contemporary bonsai practice in the Western World and offering an alternative approach from the traditional methods to the subject. It will be a very visual book and will be very different from any other book on bonsai.
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Enrique Castano practices bonsai in his home country of Mexico. As a second generation bonsai artist he was introduced to the art of bonsai as a normal part of everyday life. His love for nature lead him to study biology and he obtained his Ph.D in 1997 from Rochester University followed by postdoctoral positions in Harvard and in the UK, which were valued opportunities for him to observe the work of well known artists and, more importantly, to see many different aspects of nature.
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Bob's first interest in Bonsai started while he was serving in the Far East as an Air Force Jet Engine Mechanic. After returning to the states, his interests ran more towards motorcycles, cars, horses and things that were a little more "fast paced" and it wasn't until many years later that he slowed down and rekindled his interest in Bonsai.
For the past eight years, he has served as the President of the Badger Bonsai Society in Madison, Wisconsin. Bob conducts workshops at the club meetings and also do demonstrations and workshops at other clubs in Wisconsin and other states. Bob also teaches (mini course) classes in Bonsai at the University of Wisconsin, Madison,
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Under the guidance of world-renowned bonsai artist Saburo Kato, he spent the next 5 years developing his knowledge and understanding of bonsai. Today, Mr. Fujikawa is a certified bonsai professional by the Japan Bonsai Association and maintains one of the most impressive and diverse bonsai nurseries in central Japan.
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After this initial exposure Warren went on to study the rich Japanese culture that spawned this unique art form. In addition to his Asian studies, Warren majored in engineering and horticulture while attending college. Warren’s formal Bonsai studies and training has been with a wide variety of Japanese sensei, (teachers) which include such notables as John Yoshio Naka and Saburo Kato.
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When asked how important is drawing in bonsai styling, he replies, "The planing of styling a wild tree to become an artful creation includes extensive drawing to begin the process. Following the drawing as a guideline and putting an ample amount of time into care and love for the tree will ultimately give us the result that we are looking for.
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Living in central Florida, USA, my collection is a mix of tropical and temperate trees that can take the heat of our summers and very mild winters. I especially like Buttonwood, Japanese Black Pine and Willow Leaf Ficus trees. I've had the good fortune to travel extensively around the US and the world visiting bonsai gardens and exhibitions. Lately I have been traveling sharing my knowledge and approach to bonsai
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Mario was the first place winner in the first annual display contest here at AoB. He is from Poland and is a bonsai artist in the truest sense. He has been an apprentice of Mr. Urushibata in Shizuoka for a few years now and his personal work is well respected in the bonsai community. We proudly present some of his bonsai for your viewing pleasure.
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Nick Lenz is a crazy old hermit, not unlike Obi Wan Kenobi, who lives in the wooded hills of Massachusetts. He's also perhaps the best bonsai artist and potters in the United States. His work exhibits a flair for the dramatic and many surprises await those who carefully examine his bonsai. Deadwood may contain a demon's face, root structure may resemble legs, and the bonsai may be planted on something ...different; like a bowling ball. Nonetheless, there is no mistaking the excellent craft and artistry in Nick's work.
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Min Hsuan Lo received the grand prize of the JAL World Bonsai Contest in 1999 and he has won several other honors since. He was one of the headliners at BCI 2004 in Taiwan and has traveled to Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa, India, and U.S.A. He looks forward to more trips abroad to share his knowledge and to also learn more about bonsai in other countries.
LO was born in 1956 in Central Bonsai Garden. The family bonsai nursery was built by his father in 1947. As a child LO was at his father's side learning the art of bonsai. After graduating from the University of TAM KANG in Taiwan where he studied Chinese Literature, LO returned home to learn more about bonsai, not only from his father but also from every master in Taiwan.
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Thomas J. Mozden, is an ex-architectural woodworker and metal worker, whose detail oriented skills carried over into his art of bonsai, and model railroading. As he acquired more trees, time became more demanding and the model railroading was put aside for a later time in his life.
Living in North Central Texas, he found the long hot summers to be a drain on both his bonsai and himself. Having to cope with stressful conditions on a daily basis, meant finding ways to combat many of the problems associated with the health of bonsai trees.
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Mike Page is a South San Francisco bonsai artist who has long been active in the Bay Area scene. Though his biggest linguistic contribution to bonsai was coining the phrase "sumo style", he is perhaps better known for his extensive experince carving with power tools, which is well illustrated in the following selection of Mike's work.
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John Pitt is a Bonsai and Ceramic Artist living in Derbyshire U.K. and first became interested in bonsai in 1994. His father brought him a book and a tree to amuse him with. He had always kept little trees in plant pots, "not bonsai" he used to say, "just trees to remind me of nature".
John has always had a deep love and admiration for nature, especially mature old trees.
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Austrian, Wolfgang Putz, is an accomplished bonsai artist and cultivates many species of flowering and decorative plants besides bonsai. Wolfgang is a remarkable presence in the world of bonsai, his work with kusamono and bonsai is recognized and respected around the globe. He has been published in many English and German publications, won numerous awards, and is an active collector of yamadori.
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Sara Rayner is a self taught potter of 30 years, the last 14 years of which she has worked solely on producing bonsai containers. Sara works out of an old carriage house in her home town of Red Wing, Minnesota. She originally became interested in Bonsai 17 years ago when she attended an IBC convention in Minneapolis. She then joined the Minnesota Bonsai Society and has been an active member since. Much of her time is taken up with bonsai pot production and attending various conventions around the country. Some of it is reserved for her real passions, which include maintaining a manageable collection of bonsai trees, and serious bird watching.
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He was a humble, gentle man who always strove to improve his love and appreciation of the art of bonsai. An accomplished bonsai artist, he is remembered for introducing one of the most favored bonsai specimens in tropical bonsai, the Ficus nerifolia of which his "Cloud" is a hallmark. A photo of his bald cypress was published in 'The New York Times' after a reporter saw it on exhibit in Atlanta, Georgia in 1965.
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Andrew Smith is a contract forester in South Dakota's Black Hills. He became fascinated in bonsai in about 1994 while collecting core specimens from very ancient pines to use in past climate studies. Smith transplants 300-400 trees per year for bonsai and has supplied demo and workshop trees to many of the world's best bonsai artists. He enjoys learning about this beautiful and extraordinary art and meeting with other enthusiasts around the country.
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Mauro Stemberger was born in Italy in 1978. He is member of UBI Unione Bonsaisti Italiani , serves as one of the instructors of the Progetto Futuro Bonsai School with headquarters in Monteveglio, Italy, and serves as the president of the bonsai club of Feltre. His interest in "that fascinating Bonsai World" began in 1993 while reading books on bonsai.
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Budi Sulistyo of Jakarta, Indonesia first began bonsai in 1976 and first begun to teach the art in 1984. He gives seminars and teaches in classes and workshops throughout his country and on national television. As the first Indonesian to win an international award (International Bonsai Exhibition in Osaka, Japan) and as the author of the Indonesian language book "Bonsai: he is well known and respected in the bonsai community.
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English bonsai artist Steve Tolley began his bonsai education under the guidance of Dan Barton, with an emphasis on aesthetics and philosophy. Steve later studied with some of Europe's finest bonsai artists in particular Japanese bonsai master Hotsumi Terakawa. He is known for his attention to detail and great technique and for his work in creating beautiful bonsai, being particularly associated with conifers. Pines, junipers and yews are among Steve’s favorite species.
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Bill became interested in bonsai and horticulture at age 11 and persued his interest by studying Ornamental Horticulture at SUNY Farmingdale and Cornell University. He has made over 40 trips to Japan and formally apprenticed with Kyuzo Murata and Kakutaro Komuro in Omiya Bonsai Village in Japan. Additionally a 30-year study and association with Yuji Yoshimura combined with his formal horticultural degrees, apprenticeships in Japan and his artistic talent provide Bill with the solid background to promote and teach Classical bonsai art around the world.
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Qingquan 'Brook' Zhao is one of the best known penjing artists to Western audiences, and rightly so. Zhao has pioneered the land-and-water form of penjing, in which quiet microcosms of the natural world are sculpted from rock, soil, and trees, usually on a marble slab. Bringing together a staggering talent for placing stones, a sensitive eye for natural beauty. . .
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