About Q4 2024

In this issue, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the authors and photographers who generously share their stories, skill, and passion with our readers worldwide. Their dedication to bonsai and suiseki shines through in every article and image, providing quality information, personal insights, and valuable lessons for both seasoned artists and newcomers. I am continually inspired by their commitment to excellence, as well as their respect for publication deadlines, which allows us to bring this content to you in a timely and polished form.

This edition features a variety of international contributions, including reflections on significant exhibitions and personal bonsai journeys. From the artistry and philosophy behind Taiwan’s Gelonium aequoreum to the creative evolution of a juniper in China, our authors remind us how diverse and dynamic the global bonsai and suiseki communities are. Each piece, whether showcasing a convention or offering deep reflections on bonsai as a living art form, enriches our collective knowledge and appreciation for these ancient practices.

In this issue, Oscar Jonker, owner of Bonsai Empire, takes us to Indonesia, where he reports on the First WBFF Regional Convention & PPBI Piala Presiden Bonsai & Suiseki Exhibition, highlighting the artistry and organizational excellence behind this world-class event. Continuing in Indonesia, Budi Sulistyo introduces us to the Rising Stars of Suiseki, showcasing the diverse stone treasures from up-and-coming artists, marking an important milestone for the country’s suiseki community.

Guan Yinhai, Vice Chairman of BCI China Committee, reflects on the powerful experiences from the Indonesia Bonsai and Suiseki Convention in Surabaya, reminding us that bonsai and suiseki transcend cultural and language barriers. In Bonsai Zbraslav 2024, Tomas Cibulka showcases the Czech bonsai community’s artistry, featuring trees from across the country in Prague’s Zbraslav District.

Our articles bring thoughtful insights from bonsai masters worldwide. Min Hsuan Lo and Andrew Lo of Taiwan share a poetic reflection on bonsai as a supreme form of expression in Treasures from Southern Taiwan, Gelonium aequoreum. Piotr Czerniachowski revisits a Pinus mugo one year after its demo to explore its full potential in Second Thoughts. Yang Xi from China draws inspiration from ancient scholars in his artistic creation, Juniper Bonsai “Intoxicated Song”, while Carlo Perini recounts the discovery of an ancient treasure in Larch 500: From Cultivation to Sculpture.

We delve into the philosophy behind bonsai art with Danilo Scursatone in The Living Canvas, a journey through the evolving bonsai scene. Finally, I review the Suzuki Masterclass, offering cultural insights and practical wisdom for designing gardens, and Sailaja Kapila shares the personal journey of her Barbados Cherry Bonsai, a tree that continues to flourish under her care.

I invite you to dive into these stories, learn from the expertise shared, and be inspired by the universal dedication to the beauty and harmony that bonsai and suiseki bring into our lives.

—Joe Grande, Canada