Bonsai as fine-art object ?

I'd be interested in the perspective of someone who speaks Japanese on that video as the subtitled translation was perhaps not doing the artist's explanation justice.

He seemed on one hand to be saying that man has placed nature inside the box of "rules" which implies constraint. But then the translation states (or at least implies) that he thinks putting the tree inside the box can take it beyond nature.

That gives a problem with interpretation as it could mean either than we are constraining the artistic side of bonsai with our box of rules or it could mean that we are lifting it out of the realm of a straight copy of nature and allowing it to be more than that.

Which dichotomy of course reflects the regular debates that happen on here.

Very interesting new slant on that whole debate. Thanks for bringing these works to our attention Robert, and thanks to Quatrefi for finding the youtube clip.

jun wrote:" ...the steel frame represents the rules, what we have to do, the laws..." I almost got it, it is about the stiff norms of bonsai and how confined it is.

I thought Robert's bonsai is the ultimate avant-garde of bonsai. Your work Robert now seems too conservative... hehehe.

regards,
jun

There is always a freedom to express messages by any mean, which sometime we might not understand when it is conveyed through so called fine-art. Although I have no problem with this, but maybe just because I am a "bonsai" (plants) lovers, this medium was a little bit disturbing me..assuming those bonsai will die after that (hope I am wrong or maybe it worths).
Has anyone seen some Japanese doing the "bonsai kitty" or the Chinese making bottle key-chain with alive fish inside ? I don't like cat and I am not a koi lover, either you call it an art or creative craft, it still disturbs me..at least for me.

And just wondering..if I or Jun was the one to do this art using bonsai to express the same message, would we be called as rude and vandalism ? Just questioning...

Robert Steven wrote:Good find, thanks..That's what I wanted to know..the message he wants to convey..despite of we like it or not.....

But one other side there is message he wants to convey versus our interpretation of thing what we see. I like an art which press me to think about it and gives me some freedom to do my own mind. Must it be bounded by like or dislike?

Of course not Mirek. I don't mean like or dislike the message, but the medium and presentation...just as someone dislike abstract painting, can be personal preference or not-understand, but doesn't mean not respect...
However, I like the "frozen bonsai" on the video..the idea, the concept..and maybe it can still survive afterward...

Thanks for explanation... now i got it.

But if you leave the author's message, what stands on your mind with look at first two pictures you've sent to this thread?

What came to my mind when I first saw the pictures was kind of expression from the Japanese young generation about their traditional (bonsai) art which seems only being practiced by the "old" generation, bounded by the tradition and difficult to breakthrough to modernazation. Kind of restless and nervous expression...

Just my personal feeling...