Shohin-bonsai Europe news

Updates on the website and other news are listed at this page

2009

A U T U M N M A M E - B O N S A I D I S P L A Y

October

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On a rainy day

I invited a few friends to have a relaxed exhibition and workshop at my place, on a very Danish rainy and windy autumn day. The relaxed atmosphere and being together with dedicated and nice people made this a very good day, although the trees was a bit large for Shohin – but bonsai will do too

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Setting up the display.

A thorough guide on how to set up Bonsai or Shohin display in the display section. Now updated with four new articles on the subject.

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Parthenocissus

Guest gallery presenting Jacques Graulus from Belgium

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June 26th - 2009

Book review

The British Shohin Association has published its first book, "The BSA 4^th 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 4^th BSA exhibition.

Read the full review

August 25 - 2009

Guest gallery

The guest gallery is back. Submit pictures of good quality Shohin and Mame-bonsai only. Pictures have to be in high resolution, at least 1000 pixels.

Send to

June 26th - 2009

Book review

Read the full review

June 25th - 2009

Marco Invernizzi and Shohin exhibition

Marco Invernicci presented his ideas of preparing and styling bonsai at Nordic Bonsai Center in Denmark this recent weekend. Marco is a capacity and has a great knowledge he very kindly shares with us. See the pictures here, and Shohin at the exhibition.

Satsuki Azalea `Hakurin´

June 15 - 2009

Summer is here

It is time to enjoy the summer flowering Shohin. Be avare of the sun and drying winds, and place your Shohin and smalle Mame in a semishaded place to avoid drying out the soil too fast. I am still organizing my garden, and at the moment establishing a Tokonoma in a side building. When finished pictures will be published. Have a nice summer with your bonsai.

Still in early progress, moving stones and planting...

May 27 - 2009

Building a new bonsai garden

My friendly new nabour showed up with a very old Massey Ferguson tractor, helping moving two large stones not to lift by man alone. This is one of the steps to rebuild room for my bonsai and to start a new garden at our new home. Later this summer a picture gallery of the developent will be published.

May 20

AGM 2009 at the Danish Bonsai Society

New Chairman is Morten Albek

The annual meeting in the Danish Bonsai Society took place in the second weekend of May in Farum, Copenhagen. National demonstrators shown their skills to the audience, and was supported by moderators, online sketches and video at a big screen. A new national Bonsai School was presented during the event, hopefully succeeding starting up a program following students and ongoing slow work at their bonsai chosen, in the spirit of the “Kawabe School”. Mr. Johnny Eslykke runs the school, with support of national well known and skilled teachers, who will teach and support the student’s over a period of one year so far.

At the AGM in May the Danish Bonsai Society members elected Morten Albek as new Chairman. I also received a runners up prize together with a EBA merit award for a Shohin display with Shimpaku Juniper, Cotoneaster and Japanese Maple.

Regards, Morten Albek

Pictures from the annual meeting at the Danish Bonsai Society

Pictures from the exhibition

May 20

Guest gallery

My time is limited, so I am forced to shut down the guest gallery at this website. I hope for your understanding.

2008

December 8

Shohin-bonsai

Uro

England

November 14

Autumn Mame-bonsai display

Height of display 52 cm/20,5 inch. With of display 110cm/43 inch.

This display is set up in my living room for my own joy, but I also always present a display for guests, like the tradition of the Japanese.

November 9

Shohin-bonsai as part of the Bonsai Olympics

The Art of Bonsai Project sponsors the World Bonsai Convention’s first ever Bonsai Olympics Photo Contest.
The WBC 2009 in San Juan, Puerto Rico from July 7 to July 12, 2009 includes an online photo contest by The Art of Bonsai project. Read more about the photo contest at the Art of Bonsai Project and about a styling contest included at the WBC 2009 at the Knowledge of Bonsai Forums. For more information about the WBC 2009 event or to register, see WBC 2009 website.

October 29

8TH INTERNATIONAL BONSAI AND SUISEKI MEETING
CULTURE, SHOWS AND RESPECT FOR NATURE:
AT THE CRESPI CUP TRIUMPHS THE BONSAI’S WORLD

" The 8th Edition of the International Bonsai and Suiseki Meeting, the most important event in the European bonsai world, took place this year from 12th to 21st September, in the enchanting Crespi Bonsai’s place.
In addition to the usual exhibitions, demonstrations, lectures and spectacles dedicated to bonsai, suiseki and the Eastern culture have been planned for the visitors’ enjoyment.
Conceived in the 1995 to spread the bonsai and suiseki culture all over Europe, the International Meeting hit the target again this year with thousand of visitors and exhibitors from Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Belgium, United States, as even Italy of course.
At the Crespi Cup met amateurs and professionals of bonsai and suiseki, but also enthusiasts of the Eastern arts and culture, thanks to the rich programme of demonstrations, lectures and workshops.
The true protagonists, however, were the wonderful bonsai trees, suiseki and pots showed in the various exhibition-competitions: the Crespi Bonsai Cup, the Crespi Shohin Cup, the Enthusiasts’ Exhibition, the Crespi Suiseki Cup and the Crespi Pot Cup.

In this occasion the Crespi Bonsai Cup hosted many exhibitors with a wide variety of highly refined plants, either indigenous or from the Far East, which were evidence of the increasing quality of the European bonsai. Among the most interesting plants the jury, composed by Luigi Crespi, Nobuyuki Kajiwara and Tsau Shing Wong, selected the Rhododendron indicum Kinsai by Fabio Mantovani (Italy) with 86 points, that received the prize of 5.000,00 € and the Crespi Bonsai Cup. The Kaneko Memory prize was assigned to the Cupressus sempervirens by Lorenzo Agnoletti, and Merit Mentions were assigned to the Juniperus chinensis Itoi-gawa by Enrico Savini, to the Pinus mugo Uncinata by Sandro Segneri, to the Juniperus rigida by Matteo Caldiero and to the Vitis vinifera by Claudio Cermelli.

The competition Crespi Shohin Cup amazed the visitors with the exhibited trees of very small dimensions, trees that thanks to the man’s work can express the strength and the beauty of old and majestic trees in few centimetres. The technical jury assigned the first prize (the Shohin Cup and 1.300,00 €) to the Juniperus chinensis by Nicola Crivelli (Switzerland) with 84 points. The Pinus parviflora by Bruno Beltrame, the Juniperus chinensis by Aurelio De Capitani and the Pinus pentaphylla by Fabio Mazzeo received Merit Mentions.

The technical jury of the Enthusiasts’ Exhibition, composed by Luigi Crespi and Shigeo Ebihara, selected the Quercus suber by Angelo Fontana (Italy) as first classified, for its majestic beauty. For the winner a bonsai tree from the Miura’s garden.
Second place to Alberto Vigoni (Italy) with his Pinus thunbergii, who received a Tokoname pot, and third place to Massimo Verri (Italy) with his Pinus parviflora Zuisho, who received a Masakuni tool.

Among the trees presented in this competition the jury assigned two more cups: the Yokohama Cup for the Chamaecyparis obtusa by Paolo Morbiato and the Masakuni Cup for the Rosmarinus officinalis by Andrea Albergo. The bonsai most voted by the visitors was the group of Olea europaea by Giuseppe Trudi.

In the exhibition-competition dedicated to suiseki there were 38 stones by suiseki enthusiasts from Italy and Switzerland. The first prize, the Crespi Suiseki Cup and 1.000,00 €, was assigned to Carlo Gori (Italy), with a Kinzan-seki, that received 94 points from Mr. Martin Pauli, well renown expert in suiseki. Merit Mentions were given to Ezio Piovanelli (Italy) with a Yadori-stone and to Andrea Schenone (Italy) with a Taki-ishi.

Fine creativity at the Crespi Pot Cup, with either ancient or actual pots in exhibition. The technical jury, composed by Luigi Crespi and Shigeo Ebihara, selected the masterwork by Renè Lecocq (Belgium) with 76 points for the first prize (the prestigious Crespi Pot Cup). A Merit Mention was assigned to Gianpaolo Scoglio (Italy).

During the prize-awarding ceremony for the Bonsai-Shohin-Suiseki and Pot Exhibitions Luigi Crespi received by Mrs. Solita, president of the World Bonsai Friendship Federation, and Mr. Daizo Iwasaki, vice-president, a plate and a testimonial in recognition of his huge work to spread the bonsai culture during 30 years of activity in the bonsai world. For the same merit the European Bonsai Association, in person of Mrs. Frieda Joris (EBA-P.R.), offered Mr. Luigi Crespi a recognition certificate in the same occasion.

Over the very interesting exhibition-competitions, the Italian and foreign enthusiasts who visited this 2008 event were very impressed by the technical demonstrations and workshops, held by the special guests of this occasion: the Japanese bonsai master Shigeo Ebihara and the Chinese Lingnan penjing master Tsau Shing Wong. Ebihara’s demonstrations, supported by detailed photographs and sketches, were very specific and didactic; starting from the elements that makes a true bonsai Ebihara explained how the techniques can help the author to realize his image of an old and majestic tree in nature through the bonsai. Tsau Shing Wong introduced the Lingnan penjing and gave demonstration on how to create a landscape in a pot.
Martin Pauli prepared for the Crespi Cup visitors a fascinating lecture supported by slides with Japanese natural landscapes, to understand the meaning of suiseki appreciation.
But people found also full enjoyment in other lectures and workshops, as the Japanese cooking and tea ceremony, the Chinese calligraphy, the Japanese yuzen (kimono painting art), an introduction and tasting of Japanese sake, how to use the washi-paper, the origami realization, and again the martial art of Tai-chi-ch’uan and the Chinese tuina.
Furthermore Alberto Lavazza and Adriano Nalon, Crespi Bonsai staff’s members, held free workshops to give suggestions on bonsai creation and maintenance and a simple course for children.

Most appreciated by the visitors was the special Oriental atmosphere, surrounding the exhibition-competitions. The Crespi Bonsai place, with the Crespi Bonsai Museum and the Japanese zen, chitai and roji gardens, represented a charming location not only for the exhibited trees, but also for the interesting programme of lectures and demonstrations."

October 28

Shohin-bonsai history and art

October 24

Accent gallery updates

October 20

Nicola gallery updates

October 10

Crespi Cup 2008 winner of the prestigious Shohin competition in Italy in September was Nicola Crivelli. See the winning Shohin in the Nicola Crivelli gallery. Congratulations with this great success.

October 9

Gallery updates

September 10

Annual Shohin exhibition 2009 in Britain

BSA 4th Annual Exhibition
Saturday 28th February & Sunday 1st March 2009
Willowbog Bonsai

Following the huges success of last year's exhibition, the 4th BSA Annual Exhibition will take place at Willowbog Bonsai over the weekend of Saturday 28th February & Sunday 1st March 2009. Mame, Shohin Compositions, single Shohin and Chuhin trees are all welcome from everyone - BSA members & non-BSA members - everybody is welcome!!

Featuring over 60 top quality shohin, chuhin & mame exhibits
Exhibition judging, exhibition tour & critique by Marco Invernizzi
Japanese Bonsai Display talk by Peter Warren
(former apprentice at Kunio Kobayashi's Shunka-En Nursery in Japan)
BSA special exhibition book - photographs by Paul Goff to be taken at the show of every exhibit

Please send your entry details to Willowbog Bonsai: willowbog.bonsai@virgin.net

July 21

Shohin display

Shohin display update. A new display is shown in the display section showing a late summer display.

July 26

Guest gallery

Peter Shawisnky from the US has added a Ficus to the guets gallery.

July 9

Morten Albek gallery update

June 12

Shohin awards

At the annual national exhibition of the Danish Bonsai Association, Morten Albek was given two awards this year. Receiving the first prize in the Shohin-bonsai category and the European Bonsai Association Certificate of Merit for a Mame-bonsai display. I am truly grateful for both prizes.

June 12

Newsletter stop

The newsletter is closed, because I simply do not have the time to send it out. The website and my other activities keeps me busy.

Please check the website now and then for updates, and look in the News Section here to keep track on both updates and news.

May 9

EBA certificate of Merit

Carlos Brandão from Portugal has received the European Bonsai Association certificate of Merit for Shohin-bonsai display, at the EBA 2008 Congress in Vienna. See the bonsai in the Guests Gallery.

May 6

Shohin-bonsai display

A new feature on this site is a section dealing with Shohin display.

A this section all articles regarding display issues are collected, and examples and Shohin displays are shown.

The first display shown is a spring display from early may. Detailed photos of the display are available too, so you can study the Shohin used at each place.

March 31

The Shohin-bonsai book is printed

I received the first preview of the Shohin-bonsai book today, and I am pleased with the result. I hope all who buys the book will find it inspiring and useful.

Regards

Morten Albek

March 29

Inspiration from mother nature

A walk in the beautiful nature can be a great inspiration to our work with bonsai. In this case not so much the study of trees, but the emotions woken by sensing the mood of nature. Observing signs of the season important when displaying Shohin-bonsai, sensing the peace and beauty which can be reflected in the work with bonsai and accents.

March 25

3^rd British Shohin Association Exhibition 2008

The 3^rd annual exhibition organised by the British Shohin Association too place over the weekend of the 1^st and 2^nd of March 2008 and proved to be their biggest success to date.

British Shohin-bonsai report 2008

March 1

Morten Albek is now advisor and moderator at the Knowledge of Bonsai Forums:

Shohin and Mame-Bonsai section

"For the discussion of Shohin and Mame bonsai. World renowned Shohin bonsai artist, Morten Albek, oversees this section and offers advice to those seeking to better understand this wonderful aspect of bonsai."

Knowledge of Bonsai forums - Shohin and Mame-Bonsai

March 1

New American Shohin-Bonsai Association

Shohin-bonsai has a new future in the US because the American Shohin Bonsai Association is established with new energy and enthusiasm. Originally there was made an attempt with the American Shohin Society which unfortunately failed, - but now a new association is under construction, which have no connection to the former society.

You can follow the development at the official ASBA website

February 11

Saburo Kato May 15, 1915 – February 8, 2008

Photographed in 2005 at Mansei-en, Omiya, Japan Photo: Morten Albek

Saburo Kato

One of the great human beings and bonsai artists, Saburo Kato, died February 8, 2008 at the age of 93.

Kato influenced the spirit and the art of bonsai greatly in Japan, and throughout the world and will surely be very missed by family, friends and bonsai lovers.

In remembrance of Saburo Kato - Saburo Kato interview

2007

December 27

Shohin gallery Cotoneaster Mame updated with winter pictures

Winter pictures added as well as comments about this years tasks.

December 22

Shohin-bonsai Europe newsletter mailed today

December 18

Shohin by Niccola Crivelli

November 6

Shohin winners announced in Brazil

The Brazilian online contest. Winners are selected. Visit the website of Mario A.G. Leal to see the results

November 2

URL update for the Japanese Mame-bonsai Association

The new registered URL for the official website of the organization is www.mame-bonsai.com proving that this small branch also seems to grow bigger, exactly as it is the case for Shohin-bonsai in general.

November 1

Calendar update

In USA the first natinal exhibition has been arranged. See more in the Calendar.

October 22

Updated pictures in Morten Albek Gallery

October 21

Danish Bonsai Society features Hans van Meer

July the 15th

The 3rd British Shohin-bonsai Association annual exhibition

March 1st and 2nd

Place: Willowbog Bonsai

http://www.willowbog-bonsai.co.uk/BSA/index.asp

July the 15th

Bonsai stolen in Denmark July 15th

Johnny Andresen lost 30 bonsai on the night between Saturday and Sunday the 15th July.

The thirty bonsai where well chosen among the many bonsai at the shelves. It is believable that the theft was with the purpose of selling these bonsai abroad.

Please contact immediately with any information available to Morten Albek

June the 24th

Morten Albek accent gallery update

June the 20th

Guest gallery updates

June the 14th

Shohin in Brazil

New photos from Bergson added the 11th of June

June the 11th

Guest gallery updates

June the 10th

Guest gallery updates

June the 4th

Shohin in Brazil

A great bonsai event took place in Brazil in the town of Ribeirão Preto, Sao Paolo. This year the focus was on Shohin, and app. 85 people from all over Brazil participated. Some travelling more than 2000 km/ 1200 miles to be part of this event!

Mario A. G. Leal organized this event, which in a short time has developed to be the biggest bonsai event in Brazil.

Morten Albek demonstrated on Sunday, and made several Shohin during the days.

National teachers also shoved their good skills, showing that bonsai is well perceived in South America.

Pictures from the event is available via the links beneath:

Morten Albek Shohin demo

Charles White Shohin demo

Charles White exhibition

Regina Suzuki and Osamu Hidaka Shohin demo

Regina Suzuki exhibition

Osamu Hidaka exhibition

Bergson de M. Vasconcelos Penjing demo

Pictures from the Bonsai 2007 event

Mario Leal garden

More additional pictures will be updated in near future....

June the 4th

Shohin exhibition in Denmark

At the annual show held by the Danish Bonsai Association the 2nd and 3rd of June, half of the exhibition was Shohin-bonsai. Shohin has developed fast the later years, and an increasing number of the members are growing the small beautiful trees.

See the pictures of some of the Shohin exhibited. See the pictures of some of the Shohin exhibited

June the 4th

Guest gallery updates

June the 1st

New book about Penjing from Brazilian Mario A. G. Leal

The book is with 80 pages, hard layer, paper couched 180 with horizontal A4 size. Preface of David Benavente. Text in both Portuguese and English. The author shows some of his works, and step-to-step stories.

Contact Mario A. G. Leal about ordering the Penjing Landscape book.

R$50,00 value + post office costs.

Contact Mario A. G. Leal about ordering the book at

May the 14th

Standard rules when displaying Shohin-bonsai at exhibition

This article serves the purpose of helping local clubs and international associations to better prepare and judge Shohin and Mame-bonsai at exhibitions.

May the 1st

Guest gallery updates

April 28

Gold Award Penjing of the World

The new "Gold Award Penjing of the World" has been printed, and contains Shohin-bonsai and traditional bonsai from all over the world. One book contains bonsai from Africa, America, Europe and Australia and New Zealand, volume two includes 10 countries from Asia.

All bonsai included has been rewarded with a prize nationally or internationally. The work of Morten Albek is included too, presenting one Shohin and one Mame-bonsai.

The book is available through the Committee of GOLD AWARD PENJING OF THE WORLD

alan-penjing@hotmail.com The cost is 40 US-dollar per set plus shipping costs.

Morten Albek presentation

April 28

Magazines merges

Bonsai Today and Bonsai Europe, have merged to become a whole new magazine — Bonsai Focus.