Zheng Zhilin's Story of Chasing the Chinese Bonsai Dream
This article is selected from Bonsai Paradise Network, first published on "Zhengyuan Bonsai Tools", and the copyright belongs to the original author Liu Qinming
My Motherland
Chinese Song Classics (1950s)
Guo Lanying
00:00/05:31
Zheng Zhilin - His Chinese Bonsai Dream
The Second World Bonsai Art Creation Conference (IPCC) & IBACB
Canberra, Australia. National Arboretum
Recalling the winter of 2015, after the successful hosting of the Third National Online Bonsai Exhibition on Bonsai Paradise Network, Mr. Zheng Zhilin proposed: "An ordinary exhibition can only drive and guide people to fall in love with bonsai art; we must establish a professional conference to solve the technical problems of cultivation and creation faced by those new to bonsai. Only on the basis of keeping plants alive, keeping them well and being able to create by one's own hands can we greater stimulate the enthusiasm of those new to bonsai and more healthily push bonsai art forward." Thus the First World Bonsai Art Creation Conference came into being, and was grandly held on December 5, 2015 at Jusong Garden in Changzhou. To ensure the conference's public welfare nature, its popularity, and that attending bonsai enthusiasts could genuinely learn bonsai knowledge and skills, Mr. Zheng Zhilin personally attended to every matter, establishing the most fundamental and never-changing policy that the conference be open free of charge to all bonsai enthusiasts nationwide, and personally drafted the conference's major themes: "Bonsai Lectures", "Demonstration Performances", "On-site Guidance", "Answering Questions", and "Summit Forum". He also introduced, for the first time in China's bonsai circles, a dual-camera crew for three-dimensional filming, projecting the footage in real time onto a high-definition LED screen, ensuring every attendee could clearly see, clearly hear, and truly learn the artists' creative techniques and production ideas. Under Mr. Zheng Zhilin's meticulous and thoughtful arrangements, the strong support of Jusong Garden owners Mr. Wu Jicheng and Mr. Hu Jianhua, and the selfless joint efforts of the many volunteers of Bonsai Paradise Network, the First World Bonsai Art Creation Conference achieved complete success, received excellent results, and caused a tremendous response in China's bonsai circles.
The World Bonsai Art Creation Conference, held every two years, should have taken place in 2017, but fate played tricks: the Second Conference, which was to be held in the Philippines, was forced to be cancelled due to the Philippine civil war. The Latin American Bonsai Federation then decided that Puerto Rico would host the 2017 Second World Bonsai Art Creation Conference. Just as all parties were entering the final stage of preparations, Puerto Rico was struck by a historically rare hurricane, and the exhibition was forced to be cancelled a second time. After Mr. Zheng Zhilin's extensive mediation and the generous help of Mr. Jiang Zhihong, an old friend of Bonsai Paradise, it was finally decided to jointly host the Second World Bonsai Art Creation Conference (IPCC) and the International Bonsai Art and Culture Biennale (IBACB) with the National Arboretum Canberra in Australia. This was the first time Bonsai Paradise Network, and also China's bonsai circles, held an exhibition abroad, dedicating its efforts to promoting Chinese bonsai art and advancing the development of world bonsai art. The journey was far from easy and condensed so much of Mr. Zheng Zhilin's painstaking effort, demonstrating the enterprising spirit of the people of Bonsai Paradise in their unremitting efforts to promote the spread and development of Chinese bonsai!
Mr. Zheng Zhilin delivered a speech on behalf of Bonsai Paradise Network at the opening ceremony:
Respected host Canberra Arboretum, distinguished guests, fellow bonsai enthusiasts, ladies and gentlemen, good morning!
First, on behalf of the Chinese team on this trip, I extend our most sincere thanks to our host, the "National Arboretum Canberra", and to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Second, on behalf of one of the organizers of this event, "Bonsai Paradise Network", I express our most heartfelt gratitude to all exhibitors, attendees and Australian bonsai enthusiasts!
This is the first time Bonsai Paradise Network, as co-organizer, has held a bonsai exhibition overseas, and also the first time a Chinese bonsai group has held an exhibition abroad. We have brought not only Chinese bonsai art creation performances but also traditional Chinese tea ceremony, and we hope you enjoy them.
Bonsai originated in China, but it does not belong to China alone. Here I hope to spread this bonsai art that originated in China, to take root, sprout and thrive in every corner of the world, and, combined with the artistic appreciation and creative methods of each country, to bring this living art of bonsai to every household.
Bonsai is a symbol of friendship and also a bridge of friendship. I hope that through this elegant and vital bonsai art, China will be closely connected with Australia and with countries around the world, jointly building a path of friendship and peace!
Finally, I sincerely wish this conference a successful holding!
Thank you!
Mr. Zheng Zhilin, on behalf of Bonsai Paradise Network, presented a commemorative pot of Bonsai Paradise Network to the representative of the Australian Capital Territory, Deputy Secretary of the Australian Department of Finance, Economics and Development Scott Saddler, and the Director of the National Arboretum Canberra Leigh Taafe
Mr. Zheng Zhilin's on-site bonsai creation demonstration performance:
Mr. Zheng Zhilin guiding members in on-site bonsai creation:
Zheng Zhilin Bonsai Appreciation
Wonderful replay:
Chinese bonsai welcomes you!
Enjoyanytimeat the bonsai exhibition hall
Promote bonsai culture, exchange bonsai skills!
Appreciate bonsai art, share a happy life!