Esprit Bonsai International – August 2019

10 - EspritBonsaiInternational #

^ Exhibitions

 by the president concerned: Jean-Ma-

rie Couderc for the Bonsaï Club de l’Albigeois,

Philippe Massard for the FFB and Marc Noeland-

ers for the EBA. The latter’s words during the

prize-giving ceremony on the Saturday evening

in Pratgraussals are worth remembering: “Look-

ing at the bonsai in the exhibition, I must say it’s

just mind-blowing and inspiring for all of us. It is

giving me a happy feeling that after doing bonsai

for myself for 38 years, the level in Europe is still

increasing.” During this ceremony, participants

had the chance to enjoy a superb demonstration

of martial arts.

In photographs

As always with this sort of gathering, the tree

exhibition indicated the quality of the event. Here,

the aisles were divided into three sections: one

for 59 trees from the EBA, another for 120 bon-

sai from the FFB, and a third dedicated to the at-

tending demonstrators’ trees. Added to this were

rows of suiseki.

Jean-Marc Pouillon, who is in charge of the

FFB’s judging panels, summed it up: “It’s very

good in terms of the quantity, space and quality of

displays.” And the demonstrators’ trees were a cut

above the rest. The judging panel – comprising

17 judges, and this year chaired by Jean Croizer

• gave the title of “outstanding tree” to the nine
  best bonsai from the FFB. Since it is difficult to
  transport bonsai by air, and since France also in-
  corporates some overseas territories, an exhibition
  of photographs of exotic trees from those locations
  allowed their owners to make their presence felt.

© PHILIPPE MASSARD

EBA MERIT AWARD

Pinus thunbergii, Francesco Forno

Shohin composition, Francesco Forno, Fabrizio

Zorzi and Diego Fortuna

Pinus sylvestris, Stanislas Hoarau

Pinus sylvestris, Alexandre Wemaëre

Olea europaea, Erasmo Garcia Fernandez

Suiseki, André Duval

FFB OUTSTANDING TREES

Pinus thunbergii, José Nunes

Shohin composition, Jean-Bernard Gallais

Pinus uncinata, Jean-Marc Ladagnous

Shohin composition, Ronan Le Bras

Pinus pentaphylla, Pierre Rudelle

Acer palmatum “Deshojo”, Danielle Grégoire

Pinus sylvestris, Olivier Barreau

Acer palmatum, Eric Gauthier

Olea sylvestris, Pierre-Yves Le Lidec

EBA Merit Award: Pinus sylvestris, Stanislas Hoarau. Width: 100 cm (39 in.). ESA (European Suiseki Association) nomination and EBA Merit

Award for suiseki: stone by André Duval. Origin: France.

EBA Merit

Award: Pinus

sylvestris,

Alexandre

Wemaëre.

Width: 100 cm

(39 in.).