Page 16 - 2019 01 BSF Magazine_v3

the photosynthetic mass adapt to the randomness and the harshness of nature to be
able to weather and survive all those prolonged, significant influences? At Mirai,
we explore the influences as a laboratory to understand our material. We dive deep
into what it means to embody freedom in a creative pursuit and still respect the
quality that needs to be generated and what does it mean to think abstractly and
what does it mean to represent a concept and what does it mean to execute the
totality of the elements, culture, nature, and individual to really maximize the
conversation and the ability for the final tree to communicate that to the viewer.
One thing Mirai is exploring is the context of the exhibition and the idea you present
a tree to the viewer beyond the tree beyond the container, etc. to a viewer to be
interpreted. You take all of this into account and you recognize what you can
communicate is not just miniature representations of a natural environment but also
time capsules for representations of culture. All these things are contributing to that
final tree in a manner that most professionals are attempting and exploring, and
really struggling and grappling with as the concept of bonsai in North America.

Rob Kempinski
For security reasons, in
the following sentence,
all the pertinent
information has been
changed to protect the
identity of the artist.
Location unknown
(Rob’s backyard in
Melbourne FL), time
unknown (middle of the
day). I said to Rob “Oh
that’s a neat idea. Can
one use a magnet in the
floating stone and
another mounted in a
base underneath in
reverse polarity to push
it away, thereby
floating?” Rob The Kraken, a Cuban Laurel Fig (Ficus microcarpa), styled
responded, “Not really. like a sea monster. Photo by Joe Noga
The size of the magnet
would have to be immense. Remember, F (force) = M (mass) x A (Acceleration). The
weight of that stone and tree is roughly say 60 lbs, the amount of force required to
achieve a floating effect, at 1g is yada, yada, yada (he calculates something in his
head, only God knows if it's right) so the magnets would need to be the size of a car”.
Rob Kempinski is a modern-day Renaissance man. Known as The Bonsai Golfer,
founder of Mahogany Row Studio, author of “Introduction To Bonsai: Growing and
Appreciating Bonsai Across the Globe”, and past President of Bonsai Clubs
International. He has travelled to every continent for bonsai (except Antarctica). He
lives in Florida where the species he grows for bonsai are different than the

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