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the
bsa 4th exhibition 2009
Review by Morten Albek
 The British Shohin Association has published its first book,
"The BSA 4th exhibition 2009". Exhibition books
have two good purposes among others. One is to document
history, and another is to show the art to others than the
ones who managed to be part of the show. An exhibition book
demands good quality pictures as well as good quality items
displayed.
Both is present in this book of the 4th
BSA exhibition. Prefaces are written by Marco Invernizzi,
John Armitage, and Japanese Shohin expert Nobuichi
Urushibata who has some good views of the development of
bonsai in Europe.
The high quality photographs performed by Paul Goff are one
of two reasons that I returned to the bookshelf several
times this week, since the book arrived. I especially
noticed how well the photographs are taken according to use
the right focal length and positioning of the camera
relating to the displays. This is of utmost importance to
make a good Shohin display photo, and much more difficult
than photographing single bonsai displayed. Also the fact
that the effort was made taking all displays out of the
exhibition area to make a studio recording, heighten the
quality and value of the book tremendously. There is a good
balance between the photographs too, in this well edited
book. Only thing I miss is a size indication of the bonsai
shown, added to text beneath the pictures.
 Secondly I enjoyed the displayed Shohin much. It is clear
that the winning Shohin displayed has been cared for, and
time has been put in to set up the best possible display. A
good understanding of setting up the display the right way
is present by many. The development from the first BSA show
in 2006 is clear, and I am glad to see trees displayed then
and now that have improved and developed.
Clearly some of the good Shohin are imported. It would not
be possible to gain the quality that is seen in the short
history of the BSA, if all trees had to bee “home cooked.”
What is important though is that the acquired material is
threaded right and improved, and that there also are a good
part of the many exhibited bonsai that are developed by the
exhibitors them self’s. In a few years some of these will be
of great artistic value, adding more personal
characteristics to the displayed Shohin.
My overall impression is that the members of the BSA and the
organisation have developed much since the start four years
ago, and the enthusiasm shines through both text and
pictures. A well designed exhibition book, inspired by the
role model from Japan, seen both in the designing of the
book and the exhibited Shohin. I look forward to the next.
"The BSA 4th exhibition 2009" costs £15 + p&p,
and is available from
Willowbog Bonsai
or from the BSA at one of their displays.
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