This sinuous shimpaku by Boon Manakitivipart (Bonsai Boon) is an excellent example of how to harmonize a tree with a pot. Not only does the rusty orange/tan (what is that color called?) pot color highlight the cinnamon colored bark, but the soft curves of pot enhance the trunk’s soft curves as well as the overall soft roundness of the foliage. As an added touch, the high shine on the pot helps bring out the bark’s almost glowing quality. Altogether a very sweet effect.
What do you think?
I’m not an expert and my opinion is just my opinion (opinions are like belly buttons…). If you look at the pot choices by the old Japanese Masters in Bonsai Today, you won’t always find ones as simple to understand as this one seems to be. Sometimes the choices of pots (and other things) seem counter intuitive, which leads me to believe that bonsai, like any true art, possess subtle layers that can push our understanding if we take the time to explore.
Rare, out of print issues of Bonsai Today
For years we’ve been buying back old out of print issues of Bonsai Today, sticking them on some shelves in our office and waiting for people that are looking for them to call. Now, finally, we’ve decided to start selling them a little more actively by putting them up on Stone Lantern. They aren’t all up yet, but so far the ones that are have been selling very quickly. Some are already gone, so don’t procrastinate if you want to fill out your collection.
I really like this composition.
Junipers are often regarded as “masculine” trees requiring a more masculine ie square/straight sided pot. This tree has very sensuous and, in my mind, “feminine” curves. For this reason the delicate and rounded (feminine) pot is very well suited to it and complements the tree very well.
The pot colour works well with the veins on the trunk and together they balance the heavy green mass of the foliage. The red tones of the stand further enhance/accentuate the green foliage.
I am intrigued by the position of the tree in the pot. My first instinct was that the pot needed to be twisted about 30deg so that two legs are visible one on either side of the base. The position, as is, appears a bit “unstable” as the pot appears to be balanced on the one leg that is centre-front.
On closer examination it appears that this may be a three-legged pot which would account for the artist’s positioning of the tree in the pot. There is however a definite plus to the current positioning – as displayed in this photograph. I like the way the highlight on the leg picks up the colour of the shari – directly below where it ends in the nebari – and so grounds the tree even more. The eye is directed/flows easily from the highlight on the pot leg up through the shari into the canopy and the apex.
All in all, a delightful bonsai (tree and pot) that has grace, movement, balance (visual, weight and colour), rhythm and a solid stability.
Peter
Thanks Peter,
I appreciate your observations and agree that it’s a delightful bonsai. And yeah, it’s a three footed pot, so you would center one foot in the front.