By Derek Schlennstedt
Bonsai artist Jeff Barry, of Chojo Feature Trees in Sassafras, has been selected to curate an exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ballarat as part of the Begonia Festival in March 2018.
The exhibition will be a collection of Australia’s most advanced bonsai trees mixed with the gallery’s collection of antique Asian ceramics.
The art form which is derived from an ancient Chinese horticultural practice, and redeveloped under the influence of Japanese Zen Buddhism, is becoming a popular and renowned practice across the globe including Australia.
Jeff has curated various exhibitions at Chojo and in Melbourne, directing artists and art collectors outside of the bonsai community as well.
But this is his first time curating an exhibition at the renowned Begonia festival, and Jeff said he looked forward to exhibiting bonsai at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.
“Melbourne has an internationally renowned arts scene, and it’s within this that bonsai has been embraced with open arms.”
“Resonating with the youth in the art community, many graffiti and street artists, musicians and design students are finding a connection with bonsai,” Jeff said.
“Essentially treating bonsai as an art form will ensure its growing interest among the general public … galleries like Chojo teach and uphold the traditions of bonsai while engaging a modern approach.”
Regional Victoria’s largest flower festival, the Ballarat Begonia Festival, attracts more than 60,000 spectators annually, and is held on the Victorian Labour Day long weekend.
The three-day event has something for everyone including flowers, celebrity gardeners, markets, entertainment, kids activities and a community parade.
The bonsais will be the centrepiece of the exhibition, and Japanese antiques will also accompany the bonsai.
Jeff said it would be interesting as the trees would essentially take the place of a painting or sculpture which is different to how they were exhibited in traditional Japanese cultures.
“Having bonsais exhibited in this western manner bringing them into galleries, displaying them as you would a sculpture, that concept is new for the west,” he said.
“The exhibit is essentially no different to how you would look to a sculpture or painting, but instead the main feature is living.”
The exhibition will also include Japanese performers and drummers, and Jeff looks forward to changing and making more minute details for the exhibition.
“I’m really happy to be involved in this venture and to have that support from the gallery and the State Government.”
