Page 33 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2013Q4

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21 American desert stone on mixed medium base. Collection of
the artist.
22 American desert stone on mixed medium base. Collection of
the artist.
23 – 24 These stones are displayed on sections of steel channel.
The bases are intended to reference both early Chinese “platform
style” bases and American Minimalist sculptural forms and
materials. Collection of the artist.

globalized popular culture of the 21st century, all of
it a keystroke away. The types of stones we collect and
the ways in which we choose to display them can, and
perhaps should, reflect what we experience in the
present as well as what we have learned from the past.
Viewing stones, for example are conventionally con-
sidered to be a portal to the natural world and the
reverence and awe we associate with a romantic view
of nature. Contemplation of a stone actively engages
the imagination, transporting us to an idealized world
where we are, momentarily, at one with nature. This
is, without a doubt, an invaluable experience. We are
more than ever, in need of a respite from the veloc- 23
ity and anxiety of contemporary life. Our relation to
the natural world however, is an ambiguous one. We
praise stewardship of the land and, at the same time,
promote exploration, even exploitation of its resourc-
es. As potent emblems of the natural world, viewing
stones might also be employed to provoke questions
about the “inconvenient truth” of our relationship
with our planet.
Exhibitions are the public face of what, for many, is
a private, even solitary practice. Exhibitions are a
venue for sharing our collections with fellow enthu-
siasts and promoting our admittedly esoteric interest
to the general public. Exhibitions of viewing stones
typically have an educational component designed to
inform the general public about the practice. A recent
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