2017-2019 Candidates

Massimo Bandera, Italy/Spain

Massimo Bandera, born in 1967, lives and works between Italy and Spain, and since 1978 he dedicates his passion and professionalism to the world of bonsai. In his technical and artistic research he has created a contemporary way, in avant-garde, studying the arts and Sciences in Italy and working in Japan with his master Masahiko Kimura, the maximum exponent of Avant-garde Bonsai.

Massimo is a member of the Italian Botanical Society, and in 2000 he founded his school, the Fuji Kyookai Bonsai avant-garde school, at the Fuji Sato Company, in 2002 opened the Spanish section at Bonsai Museum in Marbella, and in 2010 in Mallorca. He is an Instructor in the Italian Association of Bonsai and Suiseki Instructors, and a member, instructor and judge in the Union of Italian bonsai. 

Massimo is winner of numerous awards in Italy, Spain, Japan and United States. In 2007 his works were exhibited in the Palazzo Bricherasio in Turin and at the Fujiyohaku Congress in Nole and Marbella, with the special participation of the Master Masahiko Kimura at his school. In April 2010 in San Marino during the XIV National Congress Italian UBI he was the first representative of Italy to receive a prize, the Prize to the Bonsai from the Ministry for cultural heritage and activities of the Italian Republic.

In 2002 he published the Bonsai Encyclopedia and in 2008 Bonsai avant-garde which collect the teachings of cultivation technique, aesthetics and Japanese culture. His Bonsai articles have been published in: Bonsai Italia, Bonsai italiano and Bonsai arte e Natura, Notiziario UBI, Bonsai and Suiseki magazine in Italy, Bonsai Actual and Bonsai autoctono in Spain, Esprit Bonsai in France, Bonsai Magazine in America, Bonsai Sunjiu and Kindai Bonsai in Japan.

Massimo is a Life Member, instructor, Ambassador, and member of the Board of Directors of BCI.

Enrique Castaño, Mexico

Growing up in a Bonsai household, Enrique Castano was introduced to Bonsai and horticultural at an early age. His love for nature led to studies in biology, and he subsequently received a PhD in Biochemistry and Biophysics from the University of Rochester (NY) in 1997, with post-doctoral work at Harvard and MCRI.

Enrique uses his educational background to promote Bonsai internationally, informing his teaching of bonsai from esthetics, philosophy and science. He has presented programs in China, the UK, the USA, the Czech Republic, Mexico, and Lithuania.

His trees have won numerous awards, including the John Naka Award, Chase Rosade Award, Mexico Best Design Award, Gold and silver medals in the Bonsai Olympics of WBFF, 3rd prize; the Isamel Saleh Bonsai Photo Contest, Gold Award Penjing in China, and the WBFF Chairman Emeritus award.

Enrique has authored a number of articles on bonsai, and his book Botany for Bonsai: the Science Behind the Art, serves as a building block for bonsai horticulture A forthcoming book will help readers understand some of the basic and advanced techniques commonly used in bonsai.

Enrique was one of the editors of Art of Bonsai and Knowledge of Bonsai. He served as chairman FELAB in 2010. He currently holds the position of Professor at the Plant Research Center in Merida, Mexico.

Min Hsuan Lo, Taiwan

Min Hsuan Lo grew up in a bonsai household, learning from his father, who built the family bonsai nursery in 1947. He graduated in 1978 from Tam Kang University with a degree in Chinese literature, but his heart was in bonsai, and he has pursued a bonsai path to an illustrious career.

His teaching career began in 1992, and over the years he has served as lecturer in bonsai at Ken Kuo Technical University, Pei Tou Community University, and Ming Dou University, as well as a guest lecturer at Trinity University in Austin, Texas. In addition, he has taught hundreds of students at his own bonsai school. Beyond teaching in formal situations, He has presented programs for countless clubs and at countless conventions on every continent.

Lo’s trees have won numerous awards, including Taiwan Bonsai Creator Association Grand Prize, JAL World Bonsai contest Grand Prize, Taiwan Bonsai Creator Association Grand Prize, Certre Grand prize( Italy). and 

Art of Bonsai Grand Prize(USA). He was also presented the BCI Artist, Writer & Photographer’s Award in 2007.

In 2010, Lo published his book Bonsai Journey.

He has held positions in many organizations and for many events, including Chairman of Taiwan Bonsai Creator Association, Secretary Chief of 10th ASPAC in Taiwan, and Technical Consultant of National Bonsai Association of R.O.C Taiwan. Lo will serve as Mediator of BCI/ASPAC in Taiwan this year. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of BCI.

I.S. Ng (Ng, Ing Suan) Malaysia

I.S. Ng is president of Bonsai n Stone Academy in Kuala Lumpur, which is a company dedicated to bonsai education through instruction exhibits, and competitions. For the past 19 years he has been an active and passionate promoter of bonsai and stone art locally and overseas. 

The exhibitions and competitions that I.S. organizes throughout Malaysia serve students from individual state level to international level. Distinguished Bonsai and Stone masters from overseas are invited to judge them in order to provide expert guidance. The Bonsai n Stone Academy also organizes trips for our local bonsai and stone masters and members to attend overseas events in China, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, and Indonesia which gives us the opportunity and exposure to a better insight of the bonsai and stone of these countries.

In 2008, Bonsai n Stone Academy was appointed as the Ambassador of Bonsai Clubs International in Malaysia. The following year I.S. was elected to the Board of Directors of Bonsai Clubs International. The establishment of BCI Malaysia was a historical event that allows Bonsai n Stone members to connect the pool of bonsai and stone masters and enthusiastic bonsai and stone lovers all over the world.

I.S. Ng has served as Advisor for Persatuan Seniman Bonsai Malaysia, Secretary General of the Malaysia Bonsai Judges Organization, Vice President of the Malasia Bonsai n Suiseki Society, and President of the Malaysia Stone Lovers Society. He is currently president of the Bonsai, n Stone Academy and a member of the BCI Board of Directors.

Budi Sulistyo, Indonesia

Budi Sulistyo began working with bonsai in 1976, and is considered to be one of the bonsai pioneers in his country. He began his career as a bonsai educator in 1986, hosting a bonsai program on Indonesia National Television that ran for almost ten years.

His first international debut was as headliner and workshops coordinator at ASPAC 1 in Bali 1991. The first person in Indonesia to be invited abroad to teach bonsai, he has travelled to many countries in Asia, as well as Africa, Australia, Europe, and USA for demonstrations, workshops, critiques and judging.

He has written three bonsai books in the Indonesian language and one - Tropical Bonsai Gallery - in English. His works have received numerous awards from international bonsai organizations, including the Nippon Bonsai Association and WBFF. In 2007 he served as Chief of Operations in the 9th ASPAC in Bali, and in 2014, as Chief of Operation in The Grand Indonesian Bonsai and Suiseki exhibition.

He currently serves as vice president of the Indonesian Bonsai Society, secretary general of the Indonesian Suiseki Association, and as a director of BCI.