Bonsai at the Priamar Fortress: Savona Rediscovers Japan

On Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October 2024, the third edition of Bonsai in Fortezza brings Japanese tradition back to Savona.

As per tradition, the penultimate weekend of October awaits enthusiasts, experts, and the curious in Savona for the third edition of Bonsai in Fortezza, a green event organised by the Ponente Bonsai Cultural Association. In the Sibilla Hall of the Priamar Fortress, the 45 exhibition spaces, where visitors can admire bonsai (Tokonoma), Suiseki stones, and numerous herbaceous compositions called both Shitakusa and Kusamono, will pay tribute to the renowned Japanese art of “miniature trees.”

Brief history of Bonsai

According to tradition, the practice of reproducing larger trees on a smaller scale would have its origins in China between 265-420 AD, as a necessity for nomads to transport useful plants while travelling. The first bonsai, moreover, were probably shrubs that had not grown due to adverse climatic conditions, found in nature by farmers and pruned in a particular way to recreate shapes and figures.

However, the true art of bonsai developed in Japan thanks to the Buddhist monks who imported Zen culture from China. Over time, this ritual practice has become a genuine quest for perfect harmony between nature and human beings, a long journey that leads one to create an intimate bond with the plant and with oneself through meditation and the constant care of the shrub.

Info and programme

The exhibition, with free entry, will be open from 10:30 to 18:00 on Saturday 19th and from 09:00 to 17:00 on Sunday 20th October. After participating in the guided tours, you will be able to attend themed conferences, unique experiences, and martial arts demonstrations. In particular, the accompanying events will be:

Saturday 19th

  • 10:30: inauguration of the exhibition
  • 15:00 – 16:30: conference “The Correct Way to Exhibit Small-Size Bonsai,” led by Master Francesco Forno
  • 16:00 – 18:00: Taoist exercises, Tai Chi, and Sound Bath with Tibetan bowls, organised by the “Il Sogno di Lao” association and “Dharmasound” from Genoa
  • 17:00: awards for the best bonsai exhibition and the best Suiseki exhibition, led by Master Francesco Forno
  • 18:00: closing of the exhibition
  • 20:00: communal dinner with the exhibitors at the restaurant “La Grotta di Stella” (SV)

Sunday 20th

  • 09:00: opening of the exhibition
  • 09:45 – 11:15: conference “Introduction to Bonsai,” led by members of the Ponente Bonsai Association
  • 10:00 – 11:00: demonstration of Japanese archery (kyudo), organised by A.S.D. CFFS Ki Aikido Kyudo from Cogoleto
  • 11:30 – 13:00: conference “The Island of Hokkaido and Its Stones,” led by Giorgio Rosati
  • 15:00 – 16:00: Kung Fu demonstration, organised by A.S.D. Wu Tao School from Savona
  • 15:00 – 16:30: conference “The Traditional Japanese House and Its Tokonoma,” led by Paolo Giai
  • 16:45: awards for the most voted exhibition by the public
  • 17:00: closing of the exhibition
To participate in these activities, registration through the dedicated online portal is mandatory, with a small fee of 5 euros per person.

Date

19/10/2024 - 20/10/2024

Learn more
Organized by: Associazione Culturale Ponente Bonsai Savona
Savona
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