2. Bonsai. Bonsai is the art of creating a miniature replica of
a mature tree or group of trees which could be found in
nature. The bonsai artist attempts to create an illusion by
changing normal plant material into a mature tree.
II. ELEMENTS OF HARMONY
Various elements, concepts and conditions contribute to the
existence of harmony in a given composition. They include:
understatement, perspective, line and its continuity and
rhythm, balance, and the soul and the spirit of the creation.
These will be discussed briefly here. See APPENDIX C for more
details.
1. Understatement. There is a basic aesthetic premise in the
Orient which states that the less powerful a thing may be,
the more effective it can be. Empty space is as important
as filled space.
2. Perspective refers to a method of organizing forms in
space to create an illusion of depth on a two dimensional
surface, or of greater depth in three dimensions.
Perspective in bonsai is used to further the illusion that
the bonsai has greater mass, greater age and greater
maturity and is in a much larger environment than is
really the case.
3. Line in art refers to a series of points which cause the eye
to move along a particular path. It controls the way we
view a particular composition. The visual movement
along the path created by these points of interest should
be smooth and fairly continuous to preclude the eye’s
becoming confused and lost in the composition.
4. Balance fosters harmony. However, unlike much of
Western art, Oriental art, on which bonsai is based, relies
on asymmetrical balance rather than on symmetrical
balance.
5. The soul and the spirit. Many years ago an early Chinese
art critic attempted to establish a criterion by which to
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