Things that make you go hmm 🤔
- Thread starter Lorax7
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rockm
Spuds Moyogi
There's a kind car wreck thing going on with this. It's so Gawd awful bad, it's compelling. No doubt this guy will get millions of hits and followers as a result of this cheezy "freestyle" composition. "Freestyle" apparently means "non-sensical"--WHY would you go around kicking trees?
Pitoon
Imperial Masterpiece
Kick boxers actually do it for training.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
I think its funnier than crap.
I studied Kung fu a bit but TaiChi was my passion. Shame on me for not still practicing. I just do a little Qigong.
I studied Kung fu a bit but TaiChi was my passion. Shame on me for not still practicing. I just do a little Qigong.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
I stand corrected then. This is an EXCELLENT representation of whatever it is....
Can't wait for the book -- another bonsai "rebel"...just what we need.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
From a purely technical standpoint, it isn't a good bonsai, and it isn't "root over" anything.
However some people really get into including figures with trees. I laughed at @rockm 's comment because we've talked about people before who do car wreck bonsai. The first time it was done it was funny. After that it just became trite. In this composition, the tree isn't there to do anything other than compliment the statue. It is simply a background element. You could remove the tree entirely and it wouldn't change things much. Remove the statue, and the tree becomes a bad stick in a pot.
Perhaps I am a snob, but I wouldn't normally keep kung fu statues around the house, and therefore the whole thing has no appeal for me.
One of my favorite windswept tree images has what appears to be a skyline of Hong Kong in the background. I didn't even notice it until I had had the image for a long time - I just assumed they were rocks. I think the Hong Kong skyline detracts from the composition - versus adding to it.
However some people really get into including figures with trees. I laughed at @rockm 's comment because we've talked about people before who do car wreck bonsai. The first time it was done it was funny. After that it just became trite. In this composition, the tree isn't there to do anything other than compliment the statue. It is simply a background element. You could remove the tree entirely and it wouldn't change things much. Remove the statue, and the tree becomes a bad stick in a pot.
Perhaps I am a snob, but I wouldn't normally keep kung fu statues around the house, and therefore the whole thing has no appeal for me.
One of my favorite windswept tree images has what appears to be a skyline of Hong Kong in the background. I didn't even notice it until I had had the image for a long time - I just assumed they were rocks. I think the Hong Kong skyline detracts from the composition - versus adding to it.
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rockm
Spuds Moyogi
The "kung fu" angle, as well as the "root over Buddha" stuff on the guy's website is well-worn territory for "bonsai" Nick lenz was doing this back in the 90's. The "car wreck" bonsai thing was also the rage at about the same time.
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Pitoon
Imperial Masterpiece
I stand corrected then. This is an EXCELLENT representation of whatever it is....
To each their own I guess. Nick Lenz has made some bonsai with "other" material incorporated into the design.......I guess it all depends who the stylist is for it to be accepted?
http://www.artofbonsai.org/galleries/lenz.php
But, like, how tall are kick boxers in comparison with trees?
Pitoon
Imperial Masterpiece
I've seen them kick large trees, small trees, and banana trees. Banana trees are usually kicked to the point they fall over or break at the kicking point.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Name has NOTHING to do with it. Lenz has actual bonsai skill and an artist's eye. Simply plunking down a Chinese Shiwan figure and strapping a ficus or mallsai juniper to it is not all that groundbreaking...and BTW, the Shiwan kick boxer here looks odd--his leg seems to be a bit too long, although it could be the photo playing tricks. That or the boxer walks constantly in a circle when he's not kicking the shit out of trees...
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
How big are the trees that are kicking?
Yeah, the first thing that popped in my head while watching was, “How is this a root over statue planting?”. Second thought was, “OMFG, the Kung Fu Guy is 50 feet tall in relation to that tree!” Comedy gold!
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
I appreciate Nick's work for its originality. Though some of his work is avant-garde, most of it was very traditional. And I'm not sure that all of his creative stuff worked... but I appreciate that he challenged convention... 30 years ago. However most of his compositions really incorporated the tree and the item very closely.
At the end of the day, I define bonsai as "tree as hero". The tree itself should be the focus of the composition, with the pot complementing it. If you want to add characters or other elements in a broader display, that's fine - as long as they add to, instead of detract from, the overall display. If you have a tree/statue combination and people spend more time looking at the statue than the tree... that's not bonsai.
Crazy Diamond
Omono
I agree that one its pretty cringe, he usually makes good trees though
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Not my thing, LOL! (This is one of David Crust's trees. No question that he is an experienced bonsai practitioner. He was a long term friend (and student) of Nick Lenz).
Pitoon
Imperial Masterpiece
You know Lenz as well as any other person that takes bonsai serious or somewhat serious. He is known because of his skill and his artistic expression, he put himself out there. He went outside of the box from the traditional bonsai norm at that time with some of his compositions. His pottery also helped to get him known.
With the American culture "Name" has everything to do with it.....from what we buy, what we wear, what we eat. You go outside the US you will find Acura models under the Honda name......not here in the US....the world knows that Americans will buy because of "Name" which is why the same car manufacturer will make two separate brands to sell here in the US. This is just an example........so topic back to bonsai.
A pot made my Lenz and a 'No name potter" both equally artisic with a nice design, glaze, etc..... I bet you the Lenz pot would sell before because of his name. Not saying Lenz does not have skill, just saying he has made a "Name" for himself that people are willing to spend on.
Pitoon
Imperial Masterpiece
I'm not a big fan of those "incorporated compositions". I do appreciate the uniqueness and approach the artist put in to make them though.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
True to a certain extent. I'd take a lot of issue with this brand name stuff being strictly an American phenomenon, however. For instance, Europe and Asia are arguably two of the biggest markets for Harley Davidson. That name sells bikes, it carries an image with it. Apple, Nike, Coca Cola know about brand power abroad too.
And BTW, Lenz' work sells to knowledgeable bonsaiists because of its workmanship and style. I saw examples at the National Arb waaaay back in the late 90's when no one knew who he was for the most part. The detail and unique approach spoke for itself back then before he wrote a book and became a "name."
Shogun610
Masterpiece
I love that
