Hornbeam (Soro in Japanese) by Mario Komsta.
Mario Komsta is his name
Once upon a time, when I was the publisher/editor of Bonsai Today, we featured an article by a rising young European bonsai star (issue 102 – we also featured him in issue 105). His name was Mario Jano. Or so we thought. Turns out, we were wrong (for the whole story see Bonsai Today issue 104 page 53). His name was, and remains Mario Komsta, and judging by the photos here (there’s more on his site) he’s a bonsai star that has fully risen.
Japanese winterberrry (Umemodoki).
Another hornbeam.
Whoa! This is one daring Shimpaku. At first glance I thought ‘oh no, another crazy overly sculpted bonsai.’ But, the more I look, the more I like. It’s two trees in one with that wild free form jin tying them together.
All the photos in the this post are from Mario Komsta’s website.
Yup, I’m the culprit who got Mario’s last name wrong when I wrote that article for Wayne. I was at Taisho en in Shizuoka Japan studying with Mr. Urushibata in 2005 when I met Mario there (he was Mr. Urushibata’s apprentice). I was very impressed with Mario and became friends with him. Truly a gifted bonsai artist. Last year in May he and his fiance, Marissa Nakos, visited the US and stayed with me for a few days.
John Romano
Thanks John,
Funny how a little mistake can turn into a story that’s still alive. Kinda sheds new light on the whole idea of mistakes.