The Majestic Bonsai

“Bonsai is something of a paradox: precise and specific steps are needed to get it started, yet it depends on an intensely personal interpretation of life and nature.”

— Susan M. Bachenheimer Resnick

"As an art form, bonsai requires a personal artistic expression. Sometimes it is really difficult for me to follow someone else's rules,” says Borhan Hossain, office secretary of Bangladesh Bonsai Society, expressing the essence of making a bonsai. He loves to do bonsai for his own satisfaction and he exhibits his bonsai to show people that a beautiful work of art can be created through imagination. He elaborates, “You have to imagine how you want to make it and reshape its form. Imagination is the only tool that a bonsai artist needs in the process of making it. ”

Bonsai is a Japanese word, even though the craft began in China over 2,000 years ago. Interestingly, in the next one thousand years, the Japanese became the masters of this art form and incorporated it within their own socio-cultural milieu. However, the art of bonsai remained constricted within the boundaries of these two countries until the beginning of the colonial expansion. The art form started gaining popularity after colonial rule spread in the Far-East. Borhan says, “In our country, people are becoming more interested about bonsai in recent times. It has turned into a new kind of hobby for many people.”

Photos courtesy: Bangladesh bonsai society

He believes that the development of bonsai art has spread all over the country, as those who love the art form try their best to create a unique bonsai. It is, however, an expensive hobby. The newcomers have to keep in mind that they need patience and money to nurture this hobby. “I cannot really go out of Dhaka. I have to water the plants every day. If you missed a day of watering the plants, then the bonsai could die within a day.”

“My family members have helped me a lot. My parents and brothers always encouraged me in my journey as a bonsai artist. Whenever I go outside Dhaka, they look after my plants. This helps me to continue with this hobby,” he says.

The Bangladesh Bonsai Society plays a crucial role in promoting this art form around the country. Established in 1999, the organisation holds a yearly exhibition to promote and showcase the work of bonsai artists. Borhan believes that their organisation provides a platform to Bonsai collectors while also helping a new market grow within the country.  

Photos courtesy: Bangladesh bonsai society