Tireless Bonsai Warrior

There’s so much that could be said about this wildly expressive tree, but I’ll leave that to Robert Steven. Here’s what Robert wrote: “Premna microphylla (small leaves) grafted on Premna serratifolia stump to obtain better foliage proportion and ramification structure… Combining different line characters into one integrated design in bonsai is a big challenge to obtain good harmony….If there is anything “disturbing” you, mean I succeed to evoke you… LOL smile emoticon.” It has been a while since we featured Robert Steven’s bonsai. If you are new to bonsai, you may not know Robert. In addition to being one of … Continue reading Tireless Bonsai Warrior

The Truth of Suffering – More Shattered Notions

It’s quite daring to create a bonsai exhibition full of surprising mixed media bonsai displays that introduce elements never before associated with bonsai (see our last post). It’s quite another thing to leap full force into social-political (even religious) commentary. Not something normally associated with bonsai and gratefully so for many I’m sure. Still, whether you like this kind of meta-themed supercharged bonsai display or not, there it was for a short while last October, for all to see. And here are some, but by no means all, of the displays that venture into this very virgin territory (some may … Continue reading The Truth of Suffering – More Shattered Notions

Biennale 2 – Mixed Media Bonsai & Much More

I don’t know how big this planting is, though I’m leaning toward pretty big. Which means that’s a particularly impressive pot (taking nothing away from the impressive planting of course). This photo and the next three below are from Bill Valavanis’ blog. Three posts ago we featured some photos from Robert Steven’s just completed 1st International Bonsai Biennale. We referred to it as the most unusual and provocative bonsai extravaganza ever and nothing has happened since then to change that appraisal. We also promised to show some more photos soon, so here they are… One of many display areas. One … Continue reading Biennale 2 – Mixed Media Bonsai & Much More

The Most Amazing and Provocative Bonsai Extravaganza…

Art, culture and the passage of time. I think this old tree and ancient Indonesian deity capture something of the flavor of the Robert Steven’s Bonsai Biennale. The uncropped version of this photo is from Bill Valavanis’ Bonsai Blog. Robert Steven’s just completed 1st International Bonsai Biennale may have been the most unusual and provocative bonsai extravaganza ever (it’s hard to imagine another bonsai event that even comes close, but these kinds of statements are subjective and open to question, so we’ll leave it at may have been…). For those of us who weren’t there, all we have to go … Continue reading The Most Amazing and Provocative Bonsai Extravaganza…

A Long Awaited Bonsai Event

This is the long awaited weekend of Robert Steven’s first International Bonsai Art & Culture Biennale. For those of us who were unable to make it to Indonesia, here are a few photos that Robert posted to promote the event. Many of these have already appeared here on Bark, but some are new to us. Stay posted for some photos of the event itself. Robert Steven’s Mission of Transformation and all of our other Bonsai Books are now on Sale for 30% to 40% off. Don’t wait though, the sale ends in a few days.

Gifts for Bonsai Lovers part 2

Masters Sword Shears. This incomparable tool with its long powerful blades and fluid cutting capabilities is one of the reasons that Japanese professionals get so much work done. You can use yours for routine spring and summer trimming, especially if you have lots of larger bonsai and not so much time. You can also use them in the garden for any number of tasks. I use mine more than any other tool on my field grown bonsai. Made in Japan by Koyo quality tools. List price 145.00. Our special price 119.00. You save 26.00 (actually you save 31.95 when you … Continue reading Gifts for Bonsai Lovers part 2

A Man With a Mission (and a Vision)

This calligraphic bonsai seems perfectly balanced between stasis and movement (something like that anyway). The relationship of bonsai to calligraphy goes way back to the old Chinese masters. Not only is Robert Steven an artistic heir to this tradition, but he is also an expert on the tradition and its history. This post features five trees that I grabbed from a Robert Steven gallery on facebook. Two things immediately jumped to mind when I first saw them: one, Robert just keeps producing top-notch bonsai, and two, these are undeniably Robert’s trees. If you’re familiar with his distinctive touch and vision, … Continue reading A Man With a Mission (and a Vision)