Page 52 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2016Q4

Previous page, left; Alessandro fascinated by videos and information on the great
works on a juniper at Massimo avant-garde master, Masahiko Kimura.
Bandera’s studio.
Previous page, right; The black His sublime works, with a perfect combination of
pine is Alessandro’s tree and he strength of the trunks and the delicacy of the crown,
is working on it at Massimo’s they appear like something completely new, never
school. seen in the environment of classic bonsai.
The lesson ended with the ironic joke by our teacher,
This page, top left; Alessandro
with his Japanese language Bandera, when in front of the astonished faces of his
teachers, Sawa Nakamura and students said, "If you want to study from the Great
Yukiko Deangelis, Master you must know how to speak Japanese and be
willing to learn from him for six years."
Middle left; Massimo Bandera I did not tell Massimo, but I immediately began to study
and Alessandro at Kokufu-ten
bonsai exhibit in Japan. Japanese, taking lessons from a translator in my city.
A year later I made him aware of my ambitious
Bottom left; Alessandro with his intentions and to which he reacted in disbelief: "If
father Marco at Omiya Bonsai you want to experience Japan is not necessary to only
Village.
study from Kimura, but you must know Japanese,
and you study with him for at least …" "six years!” I
interrupted, “…and I'm already studying Japanese! “

Given the quickness of my reply, the discussion became
more serious. On the advice of Massimo, I continued
language studies with unparalleled teachers, Sawa
Nakamura and Yukiko Deangelis, multiplying the
speed of learning.
Then came the time to also acquaint the Great Master
of my intentions, having read the experience of Ryan
Neil, where he wrote to him every month for many,
many months, I imagined that the procedures would
take place at a slow pace. In the summer of 2015 we
sent the first letter to the master.
Incredibly two months later, I received the answer: the
teacher wanted to meet me.
Obviously the merit of such a timely manner must be
attributed to Massimo and Professor Nakamura.
In February of the following year, not to be labelled
a slacker at school, I was time to take a nice vacation
for my first trip to Japan. Massimo Bandera, Professor
Sawa Nakamura and my father, Marco Bonardo,
accompanied me.
It was a climb towards the best, starting from the visit
to Kokufu-ten bonsai exhibit, and on to the gardens
of Kobayashi and Kimura.
The latter seemed an unprecedented perfection, every
Since 2010, I took courses for a couple of years the single blade of grass was in the right place and it was a
Scuola d’Arte Bonsai, then the courses were interrupt- perfect fit in size and color.
ed and I found myself at a point of departure with a
few little plants to look after. The masterpieces from the entrance sparkled in
their green tones and in the midst of these excelled
In 2013 Massimo Bandera held bonsai classes in Alba; Toryuunomai, a tree of a matchless harmony among
I was aware of his works from various publications. whose branches are hidden the most profound essence
Of these, I was fascinated with those created by pro- of nature and art, so you can stand there and watch,
cesses that involved a lot of manipulation, because as perceiving that wonderful silence that embraces the
we know, there is no art without the work of man. alpine landscapes.
The first lesson was interesting: in addition to having I hesitated a moment before crossing the threshold,
worked on a nice Kuromatsu, originally more than the master was not there, and so, we began to admire
a meter high, an Easter gift from my parents, I was the work, caressing the thick foliage with our eyes.

50 | BCI | October/November/December 2016