Art in a Tub
By: No Author Indicated
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Art in a Tub
Potted landscape art, praised as "silent poetry", "stereoscopic paintings" or "living sculptures", is a rare and delightful Chinese art form. In a pot no larger than a washbasin, ingenious craftsmen create a miniature reproduction of a natural scene using stunted trees and plants, rocks and even water.
History
It is very difficult to determine when potted landscapes first began, since the form was only considered a folk art in its initial stages. A mural in the tomb of Prince Li Xian of the earlyTang Dynasty(618-907) shows that the art form had already won royal favor at that time, although historical records suggest it can be dated much earlier than that -- nearly 4,000 years ago.
Category
Potted landscapes, otherwise known as landscapes cultivated in pots, are made by putting the artistic touch on plants and stones arranged in a pot to make it look like an ornament -- a miniature of natural beauty. In general, potted landscapes fall into two categories: potted landscapes composed of plants (potted plants) and those made from stones and water.
The potted plants are made from old, short stumps that can be easily maneuvered into a desired shape by hanging, binding, trimming, de-leafing and grafting. Some are made to look like moving beasts, some like soaring birds, and others like imaginary animals.
To make a potted landscape using stones and water, the stones must be carved, chemically altered and arranged in a dainty pan pot dotted with miniature pavilions, bridges, boats, plants and lichens. Using finest workmanship, the elements are arranged to conform to the laws of nature, reflecting the natural scenery with poetic charm: "Mountains extending hundreds of miles all are contained in a pot so small."
Potted landscapes demand painstaking efforts and take a long time to complete. Sometimes, a craftsperson devotes all of his/her life to a piece of artwork so later generations can enjoy them to the fullest.
The potted landscape may be as long as nine meters or less than 1 meter. However, the finished product looks heroic and imposing, with lofty, famous mountains, vast deserts, and endless seas condensed into one pot.
Potted landscapes today
In recent years potted landscapes made by the People's Park of Jingjiang City, East China'sJiangsu Province,have won several prizes in gardening competitions both at home and abroad. With their unique styles, the works imitate the natural scenery and pursue new trends; with chic modeling work, the pieces depict far-ranging themes and convey profound and lasting affections. The works combine features of both the magnificence and mystery of potted art in North China and the elegance and grace of potted art of the south.
Nowadays, in Chinese cities big or small, there are many potted landscape exhibitions featured in parks.
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The miniature trees are also called bonsai, although that may be a Japanese word. Whatever language, there is no doubt that this is a creative art.
I had an ex that was into bonsai. She was good at it too. I've also been to several exhibitions of the art form. One of my dreams is to incorporate a bonsai into a shallow aquarium setup. It isn't as easy as it would seem though and might end up being a long term retirement project.
When I saw this article I immediately thought of you and what you are doing with your aquariums (aquaria?)
There is a relatively new trend of underwater 'bonsai' setups. There are vendors online that create tree like structures from roots in various shapes to add aquatic mosses or plants to. You can search online - aquarium bonsai driftwood - and see what I'm talking about. I haven't done one, but I thought it might be fun to try it in my 20g cube sometime.
Since I've never done bonsai I would have to learn it OR pay several hundred for the tree I want. Which is an oak. They take many years to grow and shape.
You need a tree. Remember what Joyce Kilmer wrote: "I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree." All the homes I ever owned had at least one tree on the property, usually a maple. So give your fish a tree.
I have an apple tree and a cherry tree in my tiny city lot. I want to put a nice tree in the back yard but it would eventually root into the sewer line or the water and gas lines. Maybe once I figure out how to move the garden shed i could put one there. I would also like to put one out between the street and the sidewalk. Maybe I could put an oak or maple there and take a clipping from it at some point.
You would have to get the city's permission to plant a tree between the sidewalk and the road, which is most likely city property. In the home where I grew up we had sewage blockage because of the roots of the tree on our front yard. I don't think we had to cut down the tree, though, because I've seen a realtor's picture of our home showing a very mature maple tree on the front lawn taken long after we left.
I guess some who appreciate creative arts will see this when I expect it to be linked on the next Creative Arts group weekend.
Will post a link to this article shortly.
Thank you.