“...I do not have any hurry and I try to find the gratification in the routine and not in the obsession and the haste of the final result.” |
Spainbonsái interview to Sebastián Fernández,
Bonsái Haiku
Sebastian Fernandez Muñoz is well known in the Spanish bonsai universe and any presentation is risked to remain short, so we prefer to dispense any presentations to enter directly in this interview and discover a little more from this artist.
This interview has as main theme the Scots pine that Sebastian presented to the Municipal Museum of Bonsai of Alcobendas contest. This pine was selected, among others, by Danny Use to participate in the Gingko Bonsai Awards of 2007 representing Spain. |
|
How and when found you for the first time this tree?
This was my second pine recovered and the third that had as bonsai. And it was about twenty years ago.
What most call you the attention in this tree?
What more called me the attention was the movement of his trunk. The crown was two small and fragile twigs. Lived in the mountains of Tarragona in very adverse circumstances.
Why the Scots Pine?
I elected this variety because I believe that is the best, with difference, from among our pines for the cultivation and shaped as a bonsai.
|
What you would emphasize from this specie?
It would emphasize: the beauty of its leaves, feasible to reduce them to 1 cm. Its abundant ramification, the strong and energetic, but at the same time delicate trunk, being able to show dead wood (as the pentaphilas), the reddish colour of its bark when is cracked, the facility of its cultivation and the extraordinary acceptance for to be shaped like a bonsai.
I believe that this tree has for you an important sentimental meaning. You can tell us why this relation so tighten.
It has a great meaning for me, without doubt, for many motives; of among them I will indicate various:
-It was of my first trees recovered in the mountain.
-I cultivated for 12 years without touching it (only transplanting). And the following seven years alternating the transplanting with two shaped.
-I have learned with it what I know today on the Scots pine.
-Has responded me always to the perfection. In this I believe that we have not defrauded the one each another.
-I know to where will be able to arrive this pine and I foretell him an exceptional future in the bonsai world.
-By being a tree that has always awoke me some so especially pleasing sensations, is the first tree that has left of being mine to be the first one in belong to one of my children (Albert), with the desire to transmit him something of what produces me.
|
The shaped and the cultivation are an opportunity to enjoy and more when the bonsai has a sentimental value added. What emotions this tree transmits you?
The emotions are difficult to transcribe, if we intend to be faithful to the feeling. What can I say? Is one of the most wanted trees of my collection and is not because it is the best, but because are many years that we have passed together, and I believe that this time is stamped on the bonsai. Therefore the 90% of what constitutes its crown has been created in its time of cultivation as bonsai, the curves of the branches since its birth to the end, the orientation of each one of them, the situation, the jin of the crown, all it, I have carried out it according to my criterion and I have seen it to arise from nothing, is something very seemed to a son, is your creation, the fruit of your work for so many years. For me THAT IS THE BONSAI and it I find it perfectly in this tree.
|
|
¿If you had to summarize in a phrase what this tree signifies, which would be this?
It signifies: BONSAI. As I have said previously, few trees transmit me the values and feelings of the bonsai in a so clear and deep way.
What recommendation you would give the fans so that to learn to enjoy its trees as your do it?
I am nobody to give counsels; each one must find the road that more satisfies him. I only can speak about my experience. I have enjoyed and I continue doing it, with the cares I give to my trees. Is not less certain than I do not have any hurry and I try to find the gratification in the routine and not in the obsession and the haste of the final result. We must enjoy the moment, each leaf that is cut, each jin that is done, each yolk trimmed, each shaped, each transplant, we must taste it with absolute delivery, enthusiasm and intensity and we must share it; to share the emotions and experiences with the people that surround you, with your friends, companions… This is what really satisfies me of the bonsai.
When and how have you decided the shaped of this pine for its exposition in Alcobendas?
I decided in summer for which the size of the leaves was already excessive and I expected to 15 days before the contest for their shaped, when already were mature the leaves, in fact I had to dampen constantly the crown to help the oxidization of the copper. This it should not be done thus, the bonsai should prepared with years of forecast, because of it I have separated him of the remainder and I will do him a cultivation and special processing to present it in Belgium with a more appropriate aspect and a suitable stand.
What signifies for you the fact that this bonsai have been selected to represent to Spain in the Ginkgo Bonsai Awards of the next year?
It represents a satisfaction.
|
Mentally, ¿how should be confronted these contests to try to reduce the conflicts that can appear to see the others like competence?
I am not a contests lover, if we keep in mind what I have just responded in the question nº8, turns out to be clearly logical and consequent. I believe that in them, and this is unquestionable, large works of other fans can be appreciated and is a good moment to verify the level and the tendencies. I did not have thought to present me and the decision was almost collective among the people that compose the working group of Haiku (9 friends). For me it was an occasion to go out together and to share our hobby in another different dimension from the work in the breeding ground. And I recognize that was not bad.
|
|
Respect to the term "competence" I believe that is not this environment of the competence. Therefore the criteria that very often are utilized in the contests to select the winning trees are very personal and subjective and necessarily is not the quality the one that prevails (difficult on the other hand of praise in artistic works of seemed homogeneity) because of it we can attend with surprise and something of indignation to arguments of selection as: … (Variety, size, origin of the bonsai and other that I prefer to omit but that are in the thought of all) because of it I believe that nobody should see the others as competitors, in the opposite, companions that its works show us and of which we can learn always something. And if at the end they select us, is therefore a lot better and if not well take is it with sportsmanship and get ready for the next one and if we have taken good note and we know the "criteria" of the referee, maybe there is more luck.
That you believe that we should do in Spain so that the bonsai to stopped being a minority fondness to become a true instrument of social development?
I believe that the bonsai is that, a hobby, a business (very reduced).
That is not small if both things are done well (with the time I suppose that will be a hobby something more popular) but I believe that is excessive to intend the bonsai to be an instrument of social development. (¿Is it the case in Japan?). I understand the bonsai as something humbler and modest (and because of it very important), I understand the bonsai fundamentally like a tool that helps us to express ourselves, and to communicate us through the creation, to respect our environment to feel us more near the nature. Something that help us, in short, to be happier. Nothing more and nothing less.
Tank you very much Sebastián for your kind collaboration. |
|
|
About us | Site Map | Legal Warnning | Contact us | ©2006 Spainbonsai all rights reserved - Web design Pedro Paes