Artisan Lam Ngoc Vinh in Hoc Mon district, Ho Chi Minh City, creates mini bonsai trees which are truly works of art showing the artisan’s ingenuity, meticulousness and passion.
Mini bonsai trees are grown in small pots with a maximum height of 15 cm from roots to top but in the shape of old trees. The trees first attracted Vinh when he was a ten-year-old boy traveling with his father on a flight where a photo of a miniature tree was shown. Vinh then was curious about mini bonsai and started cultivating bonsai trees. When Vinh turned 14, he created his first bonsai called “Cascade chili bonsai”. This was a turning point in Vinh’s life, which inspired his creativeness.
We went to Vinh’s mini bonsai garden in Xuan Thoi Son village on a beautiful morning. All the trees of many species, including Shimpaku Juniper, Wrightia religiosa, Antidesma acidum and Casuarina, are less than 15 centimeters tall. According to Vinh, the trees are divided into several levels based on their height. Super mini bonsai are under 7cm tall and mini bonsai are from 7-15cm tall.
Artisan Lam Ngoc Vinh with a super mini bonsai.
Setting a work of art.
CThe trees' basic styles are straight and upright, informal upright, slanting and cascade.
The trees are of many species, including Shimpaku Juniper, Wrightia religiosa, Antidesma acidum and Casuarina.
Part of Lam Ngoc Vinh's works.
It takes from three to seven years to tender and shape a bonsai.
Making the setting for the trees also takes much time.
Mini bonsai trees are grown in small pots with a maximum height of 15 cm from roots to top.
A mini bonsai in a shell. |
The art of mini bonsai requires the patience and meticulousness of every artisan. It takes from three to seven years for a mini bonsai to become a work of art. The trees’ basic shapes and styles include straight and upright, informal upright, slanting and cascade style. The attractiveness of every bonsai tree lies in its foot and roots, which take most of the grower’s time, care, patience and love.
Growers have to use their creative eye to create bonsai art. That’s why mini bonsai trees are quite expensive. Vinh’s bonsai trees not only sell well in the domestic market but are also exported.
Some of Lam Ngoc Vinh's minin bonsai trees
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By Nguyen Luan