October, 7th - 8th 2017

  National Suiseki Exhibition

It could seem casual, however, listening to Luciana reading Felix Rivera’s 2013 letter about his ALS diagnosis during the Shareholders Meeting, we can find words underlining this concept and conveying the meaning of our twenty year anniversary: “I do not concentrate on the future but on the present, and I love looking at the suisekis that bond me to you, do not be sad but look forward”. Behind, not to forget the covered path as it is our passion’s value added; but above all ahead, because “walking implies that with each step both the world changes in some of its aspects, and something inside us changes too”. This year, the renovation request manifested itself also during two salient moments: the corporate bodies’ elections and the Shareholders Meeting, the body in which the social will takes shape and expresses itself.

The inauguration took place in the presence of the Major Mr. Maurilio Ildefonso Longhin, of the City Councillor for Culture Mrs. Silvia Boldrini and of the Bonsai Club do Groane's President Mr. Claudio Triacchini. The speech of the judge Mrs. Gudrun Benz was meant to underline the joy of meeting again with A.I.A.S. members and to anticipate the judgement parameters she always uses: great exposition attention, and suiseki’s quality.

The Shareholders listening to

Following, there has been the meeting with Mr. Massimo Bandera dedicated to the in-depth analysis of the Japanese aesthetic values. The first step is to build up the aesthetic sensibility. The Keido school is the most famous and refined school in Japan. It has theorized not only the classical tokonoma exposition, but also a more creative one, as the one set up by Massimo, in which a stone found in our Po river is paired with a very long Chinese scroll of profound meaning, which could not be hanged in the traditional way due to its measures. On the contrary, if laid out on the table, it is possible to better appreciate its characteristics, while lessening its optical weight. At the same time, leaving the stone background clear increases the sensation of emptiness. The scroll represents the history of the Eight Immortals, the Chinese mythology legendary creatures. The path always originates from the study, starting from the rules up to a freer personal artistic expression, until we will reach the point in which we will be ready to express our personal aesthetic taste in an exhibition.

On Saturday afternoon, Mrs. Gudrun Benz’s lecture took place. She showed the images of numerous Chinese and Japanese stones, giving space to two of the most important 2017 events: the Nippon Suiseki Association exhibition in Tokyo and the World Bonsai Convention that took place last April in Saitama, Japan.

The projection showed two worlds only apparently distant, as they are connected by the wonderful and infinite variety of forms and materials that Nature provides us with.

 Mrs. Gudrun Benz awards Claudio Villa for his A.I.A.S. Trophy winning stone.

The polls took place in the early afternoon followed by the votes count performed by the Electoral Commission constituted by Prudentino, Del Fico and Vanni. The voting Shareholders (40 present plus 9 proxies) have re-elected almost unanimously Mrs. Luciana Queirolo as President.  The A.I.A.S. Directive Council has been elected too: let us welcome the two new Counselors, Mrs. Laura Monni and Mr. Lorenzo Sonzini, who, together with, Maccaferri, Schifano and Scafuri compose the new Directive Council. At the same time, the A.I.A.S. would like to thank the outgoing Counselor Mr. Marino Nikpal, for his long contribution at the Association’s service. Last but not least, the newly-appointed Directive Council, chaired by Luciana Queirolo has assigned the following social offices: Lorenzo Sonzini Vice-president, Ulisse Maccaferri Treasury e Daniela Schifano Secretary. To all of you we wish good luck with your job!