The art of bonsai display lies in making a harmonious and tranquil composition from carefully selected plants, pots, stands. Suiseki and scrolls. The most successful display leaves the viewers with an awareness of power while not always sure why. A fine display should be evocative. A successful display should have elements which create a visual flow that keeps the viewers eye within the frame of the display or tokonoma. Displays are comprised of two, three or some odd number of objects. The positioning and disposition of these objects sets a stage. Then you begin to ask questions. Which direction does your tree move? Is the pot harmonious with the tree? Is the accent plant the right size and season and direct your eye back to the center? What kind and height of stand available best supports the tree? Does the scroll represent the right season and sentiment? When this exercise is in preparation for a show these questions are best resolved well before the show so that you may prepare everything to be ready at show time.

We repeat this program often as our basic pep rally before our annual show. Actually a useful primer for the work ahead. This year’s program had excellent participation from many club members to whom we are most grateful for providing trees, stands, accents, scrolls for what proved to be a very engaging evening. Interactivity by those attending opened the forum to many different combinations of elements and spirited discussion about why some elements and combinations worked better. I was very encouraged to see you all take such interest. It is good to reflect on your tress and their dispositions. Even as you apply all the techniques you should be considering that the tree must represent something. And the club show is the place and time to make that representation to everyone. It is the time for the trees to speak.
It is important that all club members learn the art of display not only for a single tree’s styling or tokonoma but to assist in setting up future BSSF shows. Showing your trees and setting up displays at shows is an essential club function and an important part of understanding bonsai. As a club we provide one another with the benefits of pooled resources. We should all contribute our resources to the shared goal of a successful display. Accordingly we must treat each other’s property with care. The art of bonsai display requires observation, creativity, practice and care. You can observe this in nature and by attending shows and analyzing how elements in a scene contribute to your sense of harmony among natural elements.

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