Page 65 - BSAM 2017 Q4

were displayed outdoor, whereas the medium and small bonsai were displayed in some rooms of the Art Centre. Te quality of the bonsai was mostly mature and outstanding. Te display was beautiful with proper background and well-spaced from one tree to the other, so that proper photography could be done easily. Te trees consisted of various species from junipers, pines, taxus to various kinds of deciduous trees. Taxus cuspidata is the species that is very popular in South Korea. If in Japan or Taiwan we see Juniperus as the main plant with jin and shari, in Korea it is Taxus cuspidata that takes that place. Tere were many beautiful Taxus with jin and shari. Whereas for pine trees, it was red pine or Pinus densifora as the majority of pines in the show. It is diferent from Japan that shows mostly Black pine and fve needle pine. Te opening ceremony was held in a large open air with tent for the guests. Tere was a stage where the show was performed. Te traditional hitting of the drum sounded the opening ceremony. Tis Convention was hosted by Te Korea Forest Service and Mokpo City. Many governments ofcial came, gave speeches and participated in the opening ceremony together with the organizers; the Korean Bonsai Association and the Asia-Pacifc Bonsai Friendship Federation. Tere was some memorandum of understanding to export bonsai trees to Eastern Europe thus showing that this exhibition was also an Industrial event. Tere were some bonsai demonstrations held mostly by Korean artists. Most of the demonstration trees were very big trees that were worked on by four or fve people at once. Unfortunately they were done in the open air, and because the weather was very hot and the locations of some of the demonstrations were not well posted, not many people observed the interesting bonsai shaping. Top; Taxus cuspidataBottom left: Carpinus coreanaBottom right; Pinus densifora