Page 6 - BSAM 2015 Q1

Noelanders Trophy XVI
Bigger, Better, More Diverse
By Gudrun Benz, Germany.
Photos courtesy Bonsai Association Belgium and G. Benz. Formal photos by Willy Evenepoel, Belgium.
Top and middle right; The spa- cious vendor area.
Middle; There was much space between the rows of exhibits. In the middle of the corridors red carpets were laid out with even more space at each side so visitors had enough space to contemplate the exhibits from close and far distance. The exhibition hall was lit by artificial light.
Bottom; The demonstrators worked on a large stage in
a very spacious hall, which allowed each of them ample room to carry out their work.
T
year’s event wasn’t any exception of the ever-increas- ing high standard of exhibited bonsai. Nevertheless, there were a few new things: there was a new date, a new location, a new photography policy, the number of traders and visitors was higher than ever, and last but not least, viewing stones were exhibited again for the first time since 2010.
The event was always scheduled on the third week- end of January, but this year it took place on 14 and 15 February, and was favored by sunny weather.
The location changed to Genk, a city in eastern Belgium near the German border. The Limburghal, a congress center in the middle of the city, offered more space for the show and for traders, much nicer and better facilities for the bonsai demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Because many visitors had complained in previ- ous years that the presence of so many photographers spoiled their enjoyment of the exhibition, the orga- nizer decided on a new policy for taking photos. It was forbidden to take photos in 2014, but the rules were modified and made more precise this year. Exhibitors and traders were allowed to take photographs on Fri- day during the exhibition set-up. Publishers of bonsai related magazines and bloggers required a written au- thorisation in advance of the event. All visitors were allowed to take photographs in the trader’s area and during demonstrations.
The vendor area was also spacious and partly well light by daylight. There was the record number of fifty traders offering all kind of bonsai related items.
One hundred and twenty-eight bonsai were on dis- play in the huge exhibition hall. The stream of visitors was endless, mainly on Saturday, when many of them hoped for a bargain at the trader’s area. There were about 2, 800 visitors on both days.
4 | BCI | April/May/June 2015
he yearly international bonsai show, No- elanders Trophy is not only well known among bonsai lovers in Europe, its reputa- tion has spread all over the world as one
of the most prestigious bonsai events. This