I want to know when we are going to stop comparing Bonsai to Painting.
Is it just me, or does anyone else see the fallacy of these comparisons?
Yes, they are both considered art, but the similarities stop right there. Comparing to sculpture doesn't work either. In my book, if you base your arguments on a faulty analogy or comparison nothing you say after that means anything.
From what little I know, the vast majority of "masterpiece" trees in Japan have had many "artists" work on them and change hands routinely. These folks aren't just hanging them on a wall or locking them away in some safe. Instead these trees are cared for on daily basis most often with an eye to make them better at every opportunity. Occasionally a brave artist comes along and completely redesigns one... When has this ever been the case for painting? ...its always one and done! Paintings are never three-dimensional. And, the little notion of being alive and continually growing and changing seems to allude these comparisons. How can you meaningfully compare two things that are so different and expect anyone to be convinced by the argument?
Lastly...
In the "some times you are just in awe" thread, the discussion about "cookie cutter" trees is laughable! The trees posted in that thread are so far beyond what the majority of folks commenting on that thread will ever own, let alone create, it is just beyond hilarious that they would have the audacity to make some of the comments that have been made (pom-pom...are you kidding me). What no one seems to factor into the cookie cutter argument is the characteristics of the species...JBP are always going to look like JBP...
I am all for discussing trees...how else are we going to grow...but I just think we should be realistic.
John
Is it just me, or does anyone else see the fallacy of these comparisons?
Yes, they are both considered art, but the similarities stop right there. Comparing to sculpture doesn't work either. In my book, if you base your arguments on a faulty analogy or comparison nothing you say after that means anything.
From what little I know, the vast majority of "masterpiece" trees in Japan have had many "artists" work on them and change hands routinely. These folks aren't just hanging them on a wall or locking them away in some safe. Instead these trees are cared for on daily basis most often with an eye to make them better at every opportunity. Occasionally a brave artist comes along and completely redesigns one... When has this ever been the case for painting? ...its always one and done! Paintings are never three-dimensional. And, the little notion of being alive and continually growing and changing seems to allude these comparisons. How can you meaningfully compare two things that are so different and expect anyone to be convinced by the argument?
Lastly...
In the "some times you are just in awe" thread, the discussion about "cookie cutter" trees is laughable! The trees posted in that thread are so far beyond what the majority of folks commenting on that thread will ever own, let alone create, it is just beyond hilarious that they would have the audacity to make some of the comments that have been made (pom-pom...are you kidding me). What no one seems to factor into the cookie cutter argument is the characteristics of the species...JBP are always going to look like JBP...
I am all for discussing trees...how else are we going to grow...but I just think we should be realistic.
John