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Tako Bonsai Tree

Bonsai: An Elevated Art Form

The art form of bonsai (盆栽) has been a Japanese tradition for centuries. It originated from the Chinese tradition known as penjing (miniature landscapes of trees and rocks). The word bonsai was derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese term for the art, penzai. Bon is a tray-like pot typically used for bonsai culture and sai means to plant. The art of bonsai focuses on the long-term practice of cultivating and shaping miniature trees that are grown in a container. The purpose of the art is to give the grower the opportunity to practice patience, effort, and ingenuity, and to give the viewer a chance to contemplate the artwork.

Bonsai making with an elderly Japanese manBonsai displays should present certain aesthetics when displayed. For example, the viewer should be able to see all the important features of the tree from the most advantageous line of sight, the focal position should emphasize the bonsai’s defined front, and the bonsai should be placed at a height that allows the viewer to picture it as a full-sized tree when seen from a distance.

Bonsai trees are a wonderful way to spruce up any indoor space. However, Japanese artist Takanori Aiba has elevated the bonsai art form to another level. He not only cultivates and trims the miniature trees, but he also carves fantastic architectural wonders that add a whole new depth and dimension. Takanori Aiba began his career in 1978 as a freelance maze illustrator.

Check out Takanori Aiba’s creations:

He founded his own company, Graphics and Designing, Inc., in 1981. He talks about how he loved playing with model trains while growing up and how his interests shifted to bonsai. His idea to create intricate miniature tree houses began with putting soil, moss, and a tree branch inside a beer bottle and observing it from all angles in the palm of his hand. He imagined himself looking up at the bonsai branch standing on the moss. This gave him a clear, realistic vision of what he wanted to create.

Aiba’s miniature village bonsai creations show the depth of his artistic imagination and experience. The Lighthouse Series displays as much detail as can be seen in the two versions of suseiki, which are  small, naturally occurring rocks that have unique shapes resembling islands, waterfalls, or mountains. They perfectly reflect nature. They are standalone pieces but were incorporated into the bonsai Lighthouse Series. Aiba’s bonsai designs play on the relationship between man and nature. His art can be seen at Tokyo’s famous ninja restaurant and at the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum.

 

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Read all about Japanese immersion learning and studying abroad. Check out our eZasshi archives for more articles!