Et Tu Ken To? 9/10/13

Precision. It’s very small and it’s made of wire, yet it’s clear that it’s a deciduous tree in fall color. I borrowed this photo from Ken To’s home page. It’s cropped for a closer view. The uncropped original with the photographer’s signature is below.

As long as were on the subject of miniature sculptures and not forgetting our mission, it seems like a good time to revisit Ken To and his wondrous wee wire creations.

Rather than going to the trouble of actually thinking and writing, here’s some text that I lifted from Katie Hosmer at My Modern Met. “To’s microsculptures must require incredible patience and a very steady hand. The curls and twists mimic the shape of a living bonsai, each one standing an average of about 2 to 4 inches tall and placed in various bonsai pots created by Jim Barrett. Ken To uses exhibition grade wire, sometimes choosing to blend several tones into one final shape. The elaborately hand-crafted designs are a wonderful interpretation of the classic bonsai art form, and can be purchased on the artist’s website”

A semi cascade with a perfect little Jim Barrett pot. All the pots Ken uses are by Jim.

 

Informal upright multi-toned willow.

 

Ken dug this old Shimpaku high in the mountains of Japan (JJ). I’d say the silver wire is deadwood and the gold is living.

 

A yamadori bunjin with deadwood. Sweet pot too.

 

Here’s the uncropped original of the photo at the top.

You can see more of Ken’s majestic miniatures on his website and on facebook.