Museum Saturday Boland Bonsai Kai Exhibition
In a celebration of the 30th birthday of Boland Bonsai Kai, some of the best bonsai trees in the region will be on display on 26 – 27 November. As a first ever, these ‘miniature’ trees will be displayed amongst The Johannesburg Station Panels and selected linocut prints by JH Pierneef.
Bonsai is an artistically designed tree in a pot. It is the only living art form that we know. Other than a painting that is completed when it is signed and framed, or a composition that, after its completion, is only open to interpretation by the performing musician – bonsai is a living art form. The living tree is in constant need of redesign – as a branch dieback, a bird breaks a twig and all other kinds of human or natural interference may occur.
In the words of the famous bonsai artist John Naka:
“Bonsai is an art involving scientific study and philosophy. It is a living tree, styled artistically to represent nature’s beauty in a small container.”
South Africa is famous for its African styles of bonsai that were developed because local artists did not believe in just imitating the Oriental styles, but wanted their own original take on this ancient art. This was inspired by our indigenous tree species and the wonderful landscape we live in, elements that were also key to the practice of JH Pierneef.
Two of the most famous bonsai styles unique to our country are the Baobab and the Pierneef style(s). The Pierneef style, with its artistic interpretation of the wild syringa, depicts an almost multi-layered Literati, one of the most difficult designs in the art of bonsai.
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Join us for tours presented on both Saturday and Sunday, by the experts from Boland Bonsai Kai. They will share their knowledge, tips and tricks for beginners and seasoned enthusiasts.
The tour takes 60 minutes and there are 3 time allocations:
10:00 – 11:00
11:00 – 12:00
15:00 – 16:00
There will be a demonstration by Winfried Lüdemann in the library on Saturday from 10:30 – 11:30.
No bookings required for the tours or demonstration.
Sales on bonsai trees will be available only on Saturday 26 November.
Linocut image: JH Pierneef (1886 – 1957). Enkel boom, 1925. Linocut on paper, posthumous print. Edition 4/8. Rupert Family Collection.