““...the ullastre has permitted me know many good people… and that does not have price.” |
Spainbonsái interview to Joan Rigo,
President of the Associació Bonsái Llevant
(Mallorca)
It is curious, with the number of conversations of tablecloth that we have had, and that this interview had to be carried out, canned and sent by e-mail.
Spainbonsái (SB). President, how Many years and as many experiences in the charge, not?
-Joan Rigo (JR). Yes, already 18 years with few bad and many good experiences.
SB. I imagine that this association will seem little to that of its origins.
-JR: Therefore, I believe that has gone evolving has gone passing the time. We begin being three friends to arrive at a considerable number of associates-ace, but we continue with the idea of a principle, to learn some of other and it more important, to enjoy with the bonsai.
SB. Many Presidents will be asked which is the prescription to maintain so good humour after so many years in the charge.
-JR. Good the main thing, I believe I, is that the president has to be an associate more, to listen to the associates and to try that these itself it pair well in the activities that the board of directors organizes, if there are discrepancies to try that these disappear, and to have always some activity to enjoy it all.
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SB. It surprises that all the work for the disclosure of the bonsai have finished by creating a Circuit of Activities for all the island, in which any fan can work with the best national specialists. This Circuit was in the hyphen.
-JR: In the islands, as everywhere, there are local festivals, and this was what gives me the idea to take advantage of theses festivals to promote the Bonsai in Majorca. This idea was before to be born the Association. In the festivals of my Town, I have organized an Exhibition in which was born the Association, then, when already was created the Association, I was offering this Bonsai Exhibition to all the City Hall close to us, we offered an Bonsai Exhibition in exchange for some economic aid. Today and thanks to all that call us, we have added some popular Workshops, and this is all, because all the associates, in a way or another have helped.
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SB. The fruits of this effort are seen rewarded in the quarry, where nothing less than three of the winners of the Contest National of new Talents is from Majorca.
-JR. Yes, but are not three, are two, but one day will be the third. I don’t like bonsai contests, but the contest of New Talents is different, is a way to learn and also to teach what your know, is my opinion. I encourage al associate to participate we have had the luck to have two winning associates of the New Talents: Santi Gallant in 1999 and Joan Toni in 2003. (SB) Joan is right, the third al that we refer is Joan Tomás, New Talent in 2005, but belonging to another association, the Sociedad Bonsái Balear.
SB. Although also you dare the organization of the Trobada and other international events, where they have been presented some masters names on a worldwide basis, truth.
-JR. The idea was to organize an Exposition of all the friends of the bonsai in the Balearic Islands, and was born the Trobada Bonsai Illes Balears. The most difficult one I believe that was the first one, but already we are going to organize the fourth, and we have had European and national teachers.
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SB. Some seeking logical reasons by way of a reply, they speak of the personality of the local fan, of the so good climate that you have, or of that species with denomination of origin: "The Ullastre of the Tramontana". What has the tree that so much people speak of it?
-JR. The Olive: ullastre, I particularly believe that, leaving to part of his beauty, has few complications: easy to root; ramifies in a few years; the wires; with little work you have the objective done; a very pretty bark; and I suppose that many more things but, the most important for me has is that, by coming them to see the olives, I have known a lot of good people, its friendship he has given me, and that does not have price. Is a good tree, easy to take care with its personal charms.
SB. Moreover, the fact is that Majorca has become an important axis of the Spanish bonsai and the place where aim the countries multitude looks. You are conscious of it.
-JR. Therefore I am not to tell you that, I expect that be certain, here we will receive them with the open arms.
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SB. What aspects you stand out from the bonsai in Balearic Islands with respect to bonsai that is carried out in other places?
-JR. I am not the most indicated one, but I stood out that hays gone little by little understanding what is the bonsai. In other places that I have visited, they have not understood very well yet, although in the islands even remain some ones in the same position. I explain it well, in the Islands the 90 percent is worked by their owner: many helped by people as are our Spanish teachers. But I stand out that the bonsai acquired, finished and ready to expose, it do not we have in a 90%. We want to do our bonsais from a virgin material, leaving as I said, from zero.
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SB. I imagine that so much time has given for a lot of work, many nerves, but also many friends and many special moments, or not?
-JR. Yes, I continue president after 18 years with the same illusion of when I began; I believe that this says it all. The bonsai, to part to give you all his art, his humility, his beauty and all him others, to me, particularly has given me many Friends and I confess that now would not know to live without them, foreign exchange all my bonsai by lose not neither one of the friendships that I have accumulated. |
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Of course Joan Rigo is not a person that passes unnoticed, is a great fan but, for the ones that know him, he still is a better person. When you are with him, you forget the beautiful beaches and the nocturnal environment of the island, in exchange for living intensely the special magic of the bonsai, which he cultivates as nobody. A where alone world fits the friendship: a friendship that he writes with capital letters.
The number 0 of the new magazine Spainbonsai.com dedicates you this space of just recognition because you deserve it.
Please find above some words from some bonsai enthousiasts from Spain:
“Joan es generoso, humilde, apasionado por el bonsái y un gran amigo”.
Sebastián Fernández (Bonsái Haiku. Barcelona)
“Joan, a parte de ser una bellísima persona, es un trabajador infatigable y es admirable toda la labor que ha hecho por el bonsái en Mallorca. Me siento afortunado de ser su amigo. Una “ferrada” ben forta Joan”.
Gabriel Romero (Bonsái San Boi. Barcelona)
“Para mi Joan Rigo es para copiar. Yo de mayor quiero ser como el”.
Pascual Costa (Bonsái Moyogi. Villa Real-Castellón)
“Su dedicación, generosidad, altruismo, sencillez, humildad y constancia a lo largo de muchos años han forjado a Joan Rigo como el abanderado de la divulgación del Arte del Bonsái en Mallorca”
Santi Galán (Nuevo Talento Español 1999. Manacor- Mallorca)
Many tanks Joan
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