MANILA, Philippines - Considered to be a premium repository of history and arts, the Ayala Museum in Makati City becomes a perfect partner for the vision of the Philippine Bonsai Society (PBSI) and the Natural Stone Society of the Philippines (NSSP) to promote greater appreciation of bonsai and suiseki arts in the country.
A special exhibition of 24 award-winning trees are on display at the Zen garden adjacent to the Ayala Museum, in a show that started on Feb. 5. Ranging in height from the 6” miniature marvels to the intricately branched and aged 1.20 cm trees, these will surely fascinate both the bonsai aficionados and the viewing public — Filipino bonsai artist at its best. The current president of PBSI is architect Augusto Rustia.
At the tri-level Glass Lane of the Ayala Museum, 30 suiseki (natural stones) will be exhibited by the members of the NSSP. The current president of NSSP is Fely S. Gupit. The society was founded by her on April 3, 2001. It is relatively young art in a country blessed with bountiful natural resources dotted with scenic landscapes and majestic bodies of water; the appreciation for unique stones is steadily gaining a following.
Dr. Thomas Elias from the US gave a comprehensive lecture last Thursday at the Ayala Museum lecture room on this fascinating art, which has flourished in Asia for over 2000 years. He is the current president of Bonsai Clubs International (BCI) and a foremost authority on the subject of stones. He has written numerous articles and published several books, most recently American Viewing Stones and Chrysanthemum Stones: The Story of Stone Flowers.
The show is ongoing until Feb. 15.