51cg, Kusamono and Suiseki artists and lovers, came together from all over Europe to the "Old Salt" on Perner Island as part of the Festival of 51cg. Kusamono (and Suiseki) organized by the BonsaiClub Salzburg. Titled, The International Bonsaiand Kusamono festes. Some wonderful and beautifully artistic Bonsaiwere in the exhibition.
The exhibition took place this year for the third time in Hallein and was probably one of Europe's largest Bonsaiexhibitions. Hallein has already made a great noise in the European Bonsaiscene. On show were not only 51cg. but a large number of creatively and harmoniously composed "Kusamono", these are "gardens of palm" or also called "grass bonsai". Suiseki Art on show included a large number of very good viewing stones with their own particular expression, distinctive shape, color and texture.
A number of great demonstrations and lectures took place in the main lecture theatre. Ceramics and BonsaiPots, Bonsaidesign and Kusamono along with many other subjects were discussed given by some of Europe’s leading experts. Visiting Salzburg, and writing this post, for the first time was Craig Coussins and his wife all the way from Scotland. They put on two displays. One of Suiseki, 95% collected by Craig Coussins. Their second display was of some very beautiful 19th and early 20th century Japanese Scrolls. They also decorated the entire demonstration room with scrolls hanging on the walls of the large hall. They also showed beautiful small sized Antique ?accents‘ , bronzes, Cloisonne, carvings, lacquerwork and even hand made miniature Samurai, all suitable for display with a Bonsaiand for display with a Scroll. Saturday night was the traditional party and the wine flowed and the participants spirits were high and of course satisfied.
Many wonderful Bonsaitraders from far and wide supplied everything from Bonsaito wire, pots, BonsaiSoil and tools. The traders filled up the huge space on the ground floor. The BonsaiClub Salzburg should be thanked for all the work in planning and delivery. One of the very best BonsaiShows in Europe. Although the temperature was abnormally high for this time of the year, the visitors who came to see the exhibition were very impressed with the overall quality of the Bonsaion display. I have been to hundreds of Bonsaishows over the past 45 years and this is up in the top ten for space, exceptional layout and above all, excellent organization from Herbert Aigner, Fritz Baer and their truly wonderful team who made everything happen.
Photos; The International Bonsaiand Kusamono festes
