Page 34 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2014Q2

Judges Are People Too!
These were all chosen by
one or more judges to be
the best tree, but did not
reach that award because
they were marked down
by other judges. Why the
disparity? More difficult
to explain, but compare
them to works of art. Which
would be judged as best,
a Picasso, a Constable or a
Rembrandt? This is person-
al choice, not judgement.
All may be equally good as
works of art but not in the
opinion of all judges. The
same applies to bonsai:
all the judges will know
they are very good, well de-
signed, healthy specimens,
but they are not classic
bonsai as they have been
taught to expect to come
out of Japan. In the same
way a Picasso is not a clas-
sic scene as taken by the
photographer and painted
on canvas, so to many it
is seen as not as good. It
might however fetch even
more when sold at auction.
Some judges are extraor-
dinarily passionate about
something that is different.

If this same person had not been so biased in his or a rosy light and rate them higher than perhaps they
her views, that tree would never have reached selec- deserve. But a bonsai designer/creator needs to have
tion for a show, let alone be on the Show Bench. I have a vision of the future of the tree he or she is creating.
come to the conclusion that this phenomenon most Sometimes that vision is so strong in the mind that
frequently occurs when the people concerned have the reality is not seen. The result is that often, trees
had very little or no exposure to quality bonsai. They are compared that should never be compared, and
have not seen major bonsai exhibitions and only judge consequently, otherwise reasonable people come to
bonsai from photos or the standard of their local club. strange judgments.
Bonsai trees, regardless of quality, look best in real life.
It is very difficult to take a good picture of a bonsai Improving the quality of bonsai
because a photo is two dimensional and flat; the im- If we are all so subjective and biased in our views
pact of three-dimensionality and depth perception is and if we are going to go on with competitive bonsai
lost. How often have you seen photos of your trees and shows who is going to judge our tree? The majority of
been disappointed; you really thought your tree was enthusiasts want their trees to be judged and judged
better than that! Often when people think they know impartially. We need to encourage those who are hesi-
certain trees from pictures and then see them in real- tant to exhibit their tress. How are we to do this if so
ity in an exhibit, they are amazed at how much more many see judging at present to be biased and unfair?
impact they have in reality. The initial responsibility for motivating and guiding
Now they have certainly seen their own trees and these individuals will most often rest within the bonsai
those of their friends in reality and as we have estab- clubs who are in regular contact with their members
lished, it is human nature to see your own trees in and have the greatest knowledge of the trees owned

32 | BCI | April/May/June 2014