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Saikei translated from the Japanese as “planted landscape” and today is the art of combining living trees with soil, rocks, water, and related vegetation (like ground cover) to create a miniature landscape. Toshio Kawamoto developed this art form in the late 40’s and took his inspiration from bonsai, suiseki and the Japanese arts in general to provide a framework for this ephemeral art. Ephemeral because initially it was an approach to growing on shohin bonsai in an attractive way and the life of the landscapes was therefore transitory.
Saikei is still an evolutionary art form, the traditional rules of Japanese art influence Saikei and as a consequence the establishment has not embedded the art with the burden of “rules”. This freedom doesn’t mean that the art doesn’t have a framework, we need to understand the usual principals of creating images i.e. proportion, presence and place, but more of this later. And as in all art we need to remember less is more and know when to finish.
As with most Asian art forms there is a fusion of practice and history of growing these planted landscapes and their aesthetic tends to reflect that of their host culture. As we grow in our understanding of Saikei we will also learn to understand the Chinese art of Penjing, the Vietnamese art of hon non bo and those of other nations.
The differences in culture and emphasis of the different forms of our art are reflected in the focus of each art form:
- Penjing – are traditionally detailed miniature landscapes trees, other plants, rocks, soil, water, and miniature figurines of people and animals to create the image (penjing also covers individual trees growing in containers, similar to bonsai)
- hon non bo – are focused on islands and their surrounding body of water together with the balance of trees etc hanging onto the islands as they reach out of the sea of water surrounding them.
Saikei has developed a harmony in presenting miniature landscapes and has matured from a horticulture approach to thickening bonsai into an independent and evolving art form which is easy on the pocket but has a significant wow factor when the balance and harmony is achieved.
What is Saikei
