35th AABC National Bonsai Convention (AABC23)

The Bonsai Society of Western Australia

35th AABC National Bonsai Convention hosted by The Bonsai Society of Western Australia

Crown Perth

<h1>The 35th AABC National Bonsai Convention (AABC23)</h1><p>Welcome to the 35th AABC Bonsai National Convention, proudly hosted by the Bonsai Society of WA, in our beautiful city of Perth. This event is your chance to catch-up with one another and finally be Back Together after the turbulent last three years. We have all been isolated for too long; it is time for old friendships to be re-united and new ones made.</p><h2>Important ticketing notes</h2><h3>For those who prefer to pay by Direct Transfer (EFT), please register your attendance on Eventbrite and use the Promo Code: DFT to be sent an invoice instead of being ask to pay with a credit card on Eventbrite.</h3>

<p>After having previously hosted the AABC Convention in 2001 and 2011, it has been 11 years since BSWA last hosted an AABC National convention.</p><p>Back in 2011, headline demonstrator Min Hsuan Lo declared that our exhibition was of ‘International standard’. Today, our membership has doubled, our trees are older and further refined.</p><p>A great number of WA suiseki will be on display, including the first Australian stones invited to be shown at the Kokufu-ten.</p><p>Members of the bonsai community are offered the chance to meet and learn from world class artists; Masayuki Fujikawa from Japan, and for the first time in Australia,</p><p>Rafael Torres, all the way from Spain. Australia is also well represented with  presentations  from Scott Martin, demonstrating at an AABC national convention for the first time, Lindsay Bebb with a suiseki presentation, and Hugh Grant.</p><p>BSWA was also given the honour to be the 2022 World Bonsai Convention host, on behalf of the Australian - New Zealand region of the World Bonsai Friendship Federation, but because of Covid, this prestigious event was held online.</p><p>Recently, our club was given the rare honour to receive the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for the promotion of Japanese culture.</p>

<h2>Masayuki Fujikawa</h2><h3>JAPAN</h3><p><strong>In 1994, Masayuki apprenticed with Masahiko Kimura, a master bonsai artist, and trained for 10 years.</strong></p><p>He then reopened a bonsai garden on the land where his late father had operated, and continued to hone his bonsai skills as a bonsai craftsman.</p><p>In 2015, he joined the Japan Bonsai Cooperative Association on the recommendation of his master, Mr. Kimura.</p><p>In 2017, he was a demonstrator at the 8th World Bonsai Convention in Saitama, and received the Prime Minister's Award, the highest award, at the Sakufu Exhibition, a gathering of professional Japanese bonsai artists.</p><p> In 2018, he received the Minister of the Environment Award, the highest award in the medium category, at the same exhibition.</p><p>He has been giving many bonsai demonstrations  and  classes in Japan and abroad with the sensitivity and techniques that he has continued to hone. He also organizes local activities by displaying bonsai and wildflowers in the guest room of Nasushiobara Station in Tochigi Prefecture, where members of the Imperial Family stop by when they are on vacation.</p>

<h2>Rafael Torres</h2><h3>SPAIN</h3><p><strong>Rafael Torres is a Spanish bonsai professional specialising in native european trees such as olive, pines and Juniper sabina.</strong></p><p>He currently owns and runs Bonsaisense, a bonsai nursery located in Majorca, Spain along with an international bonsai school created with Bjorn Bjorholm.</p><p>Rafael has demonstrated at bonsai events across Spain, UK, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic and South Africa. It will be Rafael's first time in Australia.</p><p></p>

<h2>Scott Martin </h2><h3>AUSTRALIA</h3><p><strong>Scott Martin developed a real fascination with bonsai from a young age.</strong></p><p>He  pursued  formal  training  in Japan in 2012 at Aichi-en in Nagoya, Kouka-en in Osaka in 2013 and returning to Aichi-en in 2014, 2015 and 2016 to round out his training.</p><p>In 2015, Scott started ‘Bonsai Matsu’ a training school in Melbourne with a wide range of courses and workshops for enthusiasts to nurture and develop their bonsai skill set.</p><p>Now, thanks to online technology, he is involved with people in bonsai all over the world and produces the Bonsai Stuff podcast.</p><p>Working  with  a  wide  range of species, Scott has a solid understanding of pines as well as exotic and native species and is enthusiastic to share as much of his experience as possible.</p><p>Whether a bonsai is in development or refinement, Scott takes great pride in helping to take bonsai to the next level.</p><p></p>

<h2>Lindsay Bebb</h2><h3>AUSTRALIA</h3><p><strong>Lindsay Bebb is an international bonsai demon- strator, workshop tutor, author, lecturer and judge.</strong></p><p>He was a headliner and workshop tutor at the World Bonsai Conventions in USA in 2005, Puerto Rico in 2009, China in 2013 and Japan in 2017; a headliner and judge at the BCI international convention in Chencun China in 2006 and New Orleans in 2009; headliner at conventions in Australia and New Zealand, ASPAC Taiwan in 2009, and the All India Bonsai convention in Vadodara in 2012; Lecturer at the ASPAC convention in Singapore.</p><p>Lindsay has also been a judge of many international Bonsai and Viewing Stone Contests and Exhibitions.</p><p>Lindsay Bebb’s suiseki collection would undoubtedly be the premier collection in Australia, with many of his stones mounted on Daiza he has himself expertly crafted.</p><p></p>

<h2>Hugh Grant</h2><h3>AUSTRALIA</h3><p><strong>Hugh Grant is an Australian bonsai professional and educator from NSW working out of his studio and garden Tree Makers, located in the Blue Mountains.</strong></p><p>His work uses bonsai to translate our connection to the landscape via the tree. For Hugh bonsai is an intrinsic way to be more connected to the world around us . This ushers a collaboration with nature that generates a deeper understanding of trees and the aspects of nature that partake upon them.</p><p>Hugh has practiced bonsai intimate- ly since his introduction 17 years ago as an 11 year old. Having completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree majoring in both sculpture and photography, Hugh went on to undertake an internship with Ryan Neil at Bonsai Mirai.</p><p>Studying at Mirai and being exposed to both traditional and innovative techniques in a Western context allowed for a layered learning experience. Hugh has continued his study with Ryan intermittently aiming to continually develop and hone his practice.</p><p></p>

<h2>Ticketing</h2><p>Ticket sales open 30/10/22 8:00 WST</p><p>Ticket sales close 14/05/23 23:30 WST</p><p>Early bird ends 26/02/23 23:30 WST</p>

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