Figurines not welcome???

[Jester]

Hi there crazy kids!!!

I was wondering, is it a coincidence or what? Whenever I go to a bonsai exhibition, from everything I can remember, I don't think I have ever seen figurines used as part of the display. Is this because they are not permitted??

[Mitchell]

Hi there crazy kids!!!

I was wondering, is it a coincidence or what? Whenever I go to a bonsai exhibition, from everything I can remember, I don't think I have ever seen figurines used as part of the display. Is this because they are not permitted??

I would imagine in a Bonsai exibition, only bonsai would be shown.? A figurine in the mix would give us Penjing, not Bonsai. I believe some 400 years ago, in the convertion from Penjing to the idealistic tree in container concept of Bonsai, is when it was excluded as acceptable under the definition.

[archie1979]

Completely agree,
If it where a Chinese or Penjing display you would certainly see some form of figurines or landscape style of bonsai. If it purely a Japanese bonsai display you would see only trees

[Pup]

Completely agree,
If it where a Chinese or Penjing display you would certainly see some form of figurines or landscape style of bonsai. If it purely a Japanese bonsai display you would see only trees

That is not completely true. In certain displays you will see figurines . Mostly of animals or insects to represent a scene, you do occasionally see human figurines.

They do have to fit the scene though. Mostly when you see them it is in a display in the Tokonoma.

It is also said to be with an exceptional tree, that human figurines are displayed, Gaudy ones should not be displayed with Bonsai.
As has been stated they are excepted with Penjing.

Cheers Pup

[Mitchell]

"The notion of excluding accent figures with a traditional bonsai is comparatively recent from a historical viewpoint , early accounts from the 14th century confirm Japanese bonsai artists did indeed include figurines with their potted landscape arrangements from the earliest times, only as recently as the 15th century were such garnishes decidedly excluded by the Japanese artists in order to simplify the Zen of bonsai to its present day form."


Might be worth checking this out.

http://www.artofbonsai.org/feature_articles/mudman.php

[dayne]

their just plain tacky imho it detracts from the tree to add a little man made piece of porcelin or plastic

[baristaben]

their just plain tacky imho it detracts from the tree to add a little man made piece of porcelin or plastic

Im with you dayne, 100% tacky..

[bodhidharma]

their just plain tacky imho it detracts from the tree to add a little man made piece of porcelin or plastic

I will have to disagree with you there Dayne. If it is done with taste a figurine can enhance a setting if it is telling a story. The setting can convey a scene or story told by the artist to the viewer, and imagination must be called upon to see the scene from the Artist's point of view. Albeit, sometimes these things get lost in either presentation or the viewers perception of the scene. Also sometimes we need to get involved with the setting and what we first perceive is not necessarily what is going on

[Greth]

No not tacky, I think the supreme bonsai scenes are made to tell a story, and if figurines help tell it, they should be there. You should be free to do whatever you want to do in this artform. If it has to be a separate category for the purposes of a show or competition, then so be it!

[craigw60]

I'm with Dayne no little statues on my trees thanks.
Craig

[Grant Bowie]

How about koalas in the appropriate Gum Tree or small Cockatoo in the hollow of Quentins English elm?

Grant

[Chris]

Are they available Grant a little bird would look specky

[Grant Bowie]

Are they available Grant a little bird would look specky

I did see a very small black cockatoo appear briefly in a tree at the previous Australian Trees as Bonsai show in Canberra and I have seen a small Koala(also briefly) in a very large Angophora.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

The Vietnamese are an interesting case when it comes to figurines.

I have seen very large porcelain Kung Fu type fighters in very large forest settings more than once.

Grant

[bodhidharma]

As ever, it will always come down to a personal preference. I will refuse though, to make a blanket statement about, is it good, or isnt it good, as i have seen good presentations of tree's with and without accents.