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Shohin display
and bonsai displaying
The choice of trees and their
place in a standard rack, in a classic Japanese display.
Western artists from low land
areas may choose a deciduous tree as main tree at the top of the rack,
if it is showing strength and a
masculine appearance. Because mountain trees are not present in nature
in such areas which the display
may reflect, and the expression of the display is the choice of the artist.
The expression and arrangement of shohin
Arranging Shohin-bonsai in a display is one of the most
pleasing and joyful moments of the Shohin-bonsai art. Displaying is where the
artist has the opportunity to express the mood and feeling of nature, and the
important expression of the seasonal changes.
What the artist chooses to express is a personal choice.
The goal though, is harmony and peace, and a clear seasonal approach. A few
guidelines are important to have in mind when arranging the display.
There are a few traditional and bonsai cultural
observations to take into account. Of importance is the top tree placed at the
top of the main shelf at the rack. This tree must show great strength and be of
a more or less formal character, in order to bring in peace in the display among
others.
Another reason that the top tree has to be a strong and
masculine peace, is that this is the most important tree in the display and
aesthetically this tree will add balance and peace to the overall display. If
the top tree is weak, feminine or too expressively styled, it will bring the
display to look disturbed and without harmony.
In the above example I have used an evergreen Lonicera nitida
that shows great strength and which has a masculine expression, and formal
style, as the main and most important tree in the display. The assistant tree in
this autumn display is a Prunus, clearly showing the seasonal approach much
desired in the the Shohin-bonsai display.
This display focus on the colours of autumn.
The masculine and strong trees in Japan are always pines
or junipers, because this is how the trees act in the mountains of Japan, and
throughout history especially the pine has great value to the Japanese.
Therefore pines, and sometimes also junipers, are always used as the main and
most important tree in the Japanese way of displaying Shohin-bonsai.
In other countries, like UK, Denmark, the Nederland’s
i.e., pines or junipers are not necessarily the strongest and most masculine
trees present in nature. Therefore we might want another specimen as the main
tree in the Shohin display, – but we can of course use pines or junipers if this
is what the artist wants.
No rules tells what to do only tradition and culture
leads the way through guidelines and most important – the feeling expressed by
the artist is what counts
An evergreen Lonicera nitida can be as powerful and
strong as a pine here, as well as a Spruce can be a good choice.
What is important is that the chosen tree has a strong,
masculine and more or less formal expression. My personal view is that also a
deciduous tree can be used, but then this tree has to be extraordinary powerful,
and clearly masculine in its expression as well as the other trees used must be
able to achieve the right harmony and balance with this tree. An evergreen tree
will in most cases be the preferable choice and easier choice.
The assistant tree
The second most important tree in the display is the
assistant tree, which interacts with the main tree. The role of this tree is to
bring in a clear seasonal approach shown through leafs, flowers or fruits or a
strong tree supporting the main tree, or adding a feeling of strength e.g.
making use of a conifer e.g.; – all depending on what the artist wants to
express.
The assistant tree can be both a feminine, often a
deciduous tree, or a masculine tree, more informal styled than the main tree.
Other trees in the display
If more trees are used in the display, these can be both
evergreens and deciduous trees, but all of them have to be in harmony with the
main tree and the assistant tree, and not take attention away from the two most
important trees in the display. This in order to achieve harmony and peace in
the display.
The trees must express the seasonal changes, but also a
evergreen tree can be used if the artist wants to bring in an element of
strength e.g. to the display.
Accents
Accents are used to add further mood to the display, and
express the season too. The accent most often interacts with the assistant tree,
but can be used as part of the main rack arrangement too if needed or wanted.
This is a Japanese Shohin display, showing the classical way of
making use of a Japanese Black Pine
as the main tree, and a White Pine as assistant tree. This
display expresses strength.
This Japanese display shows the
use of the assistant tree clearly expressing the seasonal approach,
making use of the Japanese
classical Black Pine as the main tree.
The display is much lighter and
more romantic than the example shown just above.
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