Report by Mrs.Daniela Schifano - Photo by Mr. Carlo Laghi - Translation by Mr. Vito Di Venere

In 2016 , thanks to the hospitality  of the Gonzaga Bonsai Club , the AIAS Congress returns in Bondeno, under the Church which has become  a symbol of continuity  of the social life 2012-2016 : four years  of a firm reconstruction  after the earthquake of May 20th. The AIAS Congress was indeed hoisted  in 2012  in these same places  and the signs of the earthquake  were still visible and dramatic.

So, in spite of the delays  in the reconstruction, the Bondeno habitants  obstinately gathered behind  their church , in the city park called “Matilda Court”, duly placed under security  in its restaurant premises , in an holiday  which  overall  offers again  the ancient  rites of country life, made of traditions, of stories, of people, of work and of experiences  tightly  linked  to the land, to its products, to its natural rhythm , to the season . Therefore , it shall not appear strange  to give  once again hospitality to the suiseki of AIAS members , in a big  top tent  intentionally realized , where have found  place   in exhibition  the 74 stones. 
Together with us, once again Dr. Mr. Thomas Elias   and his wife  Dr.Mrs. Hiromi Nakaoji ,  not only  as honour  guests , but overall  as great friends  of all of us , who let themselves get  involved  from the pleasant athmosphere  of this Convention. But the mutual understanding  should have been  impossible without the precious help of  Mr. Francesco Vernarelli,  who in every moment of the Congress , official and  not, has acted , with great competence,  as interpreter  allowing so a real time conversation. Son of our member Mrs. Laura Monni, we thank him for  his cooperative spirit demonstrated  and we cannot but hope  to have him  among our effective members!

Dr. Thomas Elias, as sole judge also last year, keeps  on with his praiseworthy deeds  of the stones  Appreciation Art , both Chinese, Japanese  or  American; together  with his wife   Dr. Hiromi Nakaoji , they are authors of the most important books  on the appreciation of  Asian   stones  and through the VSANA web (Viewing Stone Association of North America) they publish  important articles on the suiseki world. Also this year he has decided  to submit one of his lecture on suiseki in Japan  and has not missed  to comment every stone in exhibition.

The opening ceremony  has taken place with the attendance  of the President of the Bondeno Association  Crowd Mr.Bosi Vanni, who  we thank for  having given  us hospitality  to “The Grape’s  holidays” and  for offering  the welcome buffet, and  to the  President  of the organizing Gonzaga  Bonsai Club  and to the AIAS member  Mrs. Laura Redini. To her  and to all her  Club  our thanks  for giving hospitality  once again  and for having put in action  a perfect organizing machine,  inclusive  of three wonderful  sunny  days ! A thank also to Mr.  Franco Buzzi,   ubiquitous valid member of the  Gonzaga Bonsai Club.

On Saturday afternoon , perhaps the most expected moment, the lecture of Mr .Thomas Elias : ”Japanese Suiseki:  the Art Form”. The subject dealt with, anticipated in our newsletter , resulted in fact extremely interesting: starting from the assumption  that a suiseki  is an art object, “ the concept that stones have to be natural that is unaltered is a modern western concept which is in conflict  with the previous  experience in China and in Japan , where the alterations were  a recognized  and accepted matter”. The researches  of Mr. Elias  have led to the evidence that the alteration  of a stone, in Japan,  is a verified matter  and not kept hidden. Despite the fact that some Japanese suiseki enthusiasts  have never supported  the alteration  of the stones  since the ’60  years  many articles  in the books and publications  explained  how to modify the stones in order  to make  a more artistic  effect : the sandblast, the cleaning , the employment of oil but also the base cutting  and the intaglio  of the higher shape  were all projects made, described  and considered “ alterations “. The request  of interesting  landscape stones has increased  between 1960 and 1970 years  and many of such exemplars  were so well done that even  earnest collectors  and traders  were not able  to recognize   the alterations . So, it is the moment  to do without  the idea  that Japanese  suiseki  are all natural.  Also if for Mr. Thomas Elias  the natural stone is always preferable to a worked stone, he fully appreciates a Japanese stone , because  are its peculiarities that make it pleasant  and interesting , both if altered or natural. In conclusion, he suggests  to the enthusiasts “to concentrate one’s attention on how to appreciate the features of a stone and to learn  the many ways in which a stone  can be  successfully displayed, in the traditional Japanese way  or in more contemporary settings”.

The evening has gone on  among our stones , because in this Congress’ event we have lived a novelty: as part of an holiday  with a large evening program , also our area  remained opened  to the public until 23.00 hours.

Early in the afternoon , the members’ Assembly  has brought  to the attention  of the Board  some applications  of the members.  Among the most innovative requests, the one  to proceed  to a “slimming”  of the awards, in witness of an overall  maturity of members.

In the  2017 year   there will be an important Convention, the one of the Association twentieth anniversary . The appointment is already fixed for the 7th-8th October  in Cesano Maderno (MI), host of the  Associated Club “Do Groane Suiseki School”, sole judge  Mrs. Luciana Queirolo.  Inevitably , life brings us towards  future, to new stones and new projects, but this year has been much significant  to come back  on our first steps and to find ourselves after four years , where life has started  again  with tenacity, materially and morally.          

As always I close with a dutiful bow …..  the classic acknowledgement  to the winning stone of the A.I.A.S. Trophy 2016,  which has been granted to the landscape stone of  italian origin  exhibited by Mr. Ettore Gardini.