editorial
Master Masahiko Kimura (left), the Picea he styled specially for Bonsai
Focus magazine (see our February 2008 issue) and your editor (right)
Kimura on my mind
Needless to say, Masahiko Kimura is one of the most inspiring
bonsai artists of our times. Many artists in the West have been
influenced by this genius. What makes Kimura’s art so stunning
and appealing to us? What makes this artist so fascinating?
He was the first bonsai artist to work with high tech tools and
daring designs that explored the borders of this art form. Also
new was that he did most of his work in front of the camera.
This was very clever thinking because these images came to us
in many issues of Kinbon magazine and in his books so that it
seemed that Kimura was the one and only artist of importance;
a kind of over-exposure of his work, as I can remember when
I started bonsai myself. I had a kind of unsatisfied hunger for
all that was Kimura and so it was almost impossible not to be
influenced by his work.
Another thing that’s appealing about Kimura — and completely
adopted by western artists — is his ability to create fabulous
bonsai from material which would normally be discarded.
Maybe not all of Kimura’s designs appeal to everyone, but the
concept of using less blessed material became very popular and
almost a standard. Kimura has been one of the first to realise
that bonsai wasn’t just a Japanese art and so made contact with
Western bonsai artists. The development of Western bonsai is
very much linked to the work of Kimura.
Italian Enrico Savini, is one such artist who has been inspired
by the Master. His love for Kimura’s work made him decide to
purchase one of Kimura’s famous trees and bring it back to its
former glory. See his work further on.
French, Louis Bourdeau travelled to Japan and was very lucky
to visit Mr Kimura’s garden. He had a fascinating conversation
with the Master himself. Read his report.
We’re big on Kimura in this issue, but there’s lots more, too, such
as the in depth maintenance of a pine and Portuguese, Márcio
Merujé styling a Buxus, just to mention a couple of items.
Enjoy the read.
Farrand Bloch
Chief editor
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