After reviewing the basics of how to assemble a shohin display last week (see “Award-winning display” for details), we can begin to spot differences in otherwise similar-looking displays and better understand what makes these displays “work.”
At a glance, we can see all of the elements we looked at last week in the display below: a black pine on top of the box, a juniper off to the side, and two broadleaf evergreens (in opposite corners) along with two deciduous trees (also in opposite corners).
Adding to the list of list of shohin display conventions, we can also see that each of the six trees are on small display tables. One of the main reasons for these small stands is to change the height of the trees so no two sit at the same level. Even though the dwarf jasmine on the middle shelf is taller than the chojubai next to it, it’s on a taller stand to increase the height difference between them.
We can see the same thing on the lower shelf. The trident maple is shorter than the dwarf kumquat, but placing it on a taller stand raises it more than an inch above the kumquat.
Display #1 – note the small stands under each tree
A second way to understand the role these stands play is to consider the effect they have on the gaps above the trees inside the box.
If you look closely, the four quadrants in a box stand are slightly different shapes. Some are taller, some shorter, some wider, and some are narrower than the others.
In general, the goal is to create variety not only among the heights of the trees on a given shelf, but also to vary the gaps above the trees.
The tallest space within the box is usually the inside quadrant on the middle shelf (in the display below, it’s the space with the chojubai in a yellow pot). If we placed a tall tree on this shelf, we’d make the gap look small. To make the gap bigger, it’s common to place a relatively small tree in this spot.
Display #2 – note the gap above the chojubai in the yellow pot
If it isn’t clear by now, one of the main goals of shohin displays is to provide as much contrast among display elements as possible: contrast in tree species and styles, pot shapes and colors, stands, and even the gaps above the trees!
It’s slightly ironic that the pursuit of so much contrast can yield such similar displays. Part of this is due to fashion (the popularity of different species can change over time), and part of it is that are only so many trees with color in a given time of year (not many species grown as bonsai bloom or have fruit in winter).
Display #3
We can extend the contrast within a display to color or leaf type provided by the accent plant, the slab the accent sits on, and the stand (often a root stand) that supports the tree that sits outside of the box.
Display #4
Display #5
All five of the displays above do a great job exemplifying shohin display conventions. We can find many of the same conventions in mini bonsai displays.
Mini bonsai, categorized at Gafu-ten in 7cm and 10cm categories, are typically displayed in several box stands with more than ten trees per display.
Mini bonsai display
Stand with three trees
Stand with five trees
Stand with four trees
This brings us back to the special displays at Gafu-ten (see “Special displays” for details). Even when there are different numbers of trees in a display, we typically see the trees displayed at different heights and can expect to see a lot of contrast between the display elements within a given space.
Special display featuring ten shohin bonsai
California Shohin Seminar is this Weekend!
The California Shohin Seminar runs today, tomorrow, and Sunday at the Hotel Mission De Oro in Santa Nella, California. The weekend will be full of workshops, vendors, and demonstrations, plus one of the larger shohin exhibits on the West Coast.
In addition to bringing select tools and supplies, I’ll have assorted stands, slabs, and containers for shohin available in the vendor area. On Saturday I’m leading a mini exposed root pine workshop (registered attendees can observe all workshops) and Sunday morning I’ll be presenting shohin display basics.
Funds raised at the Shohin Seminar support the three GSBF-affiliated public bonsai gardens. Learn more at the event website.
Darth Masiah says
never paid much attention to the spacing details, because it just looked normal. I’m always looking at how they arrange the tree species like you’re looking at the top of a mountain with high elevation trees, down to the forest and understory trees, to the orchards and fruit bushes at the bottom of the valley.