Bonsai - Deepening Roots on Megijima (Setouchi Triennale 2019)

Today, we're going back to 2019 to discuss a project I really liked, as well as a few more thoughts on certain aspects of the Setouchi Triennale.As you may have guessed, Bonsai: Deepening Roots revolved around bonsai. It was organized and managed by Setouchi Cogeiz and Masashi Hirao.Setouchi Cogeiz is (was?) a group of local designers. I wonder if it's a "was" because their website doesn't seem to have been updated since around 2022.Masashi Hirao is a "young" local bonsai master whose work focuses on modernizing the art form in various ways. It's strange that he hasn't been active online since last spring. I hope he's okay.The project was a follow-up to a previous one for the Setouchi Triennale 2016 called "Feel Feel Bonsai," which was located in the same building on Megijima.Unfortunately, the project did not continue after 2019. The pandemic may (or may not?) have played a part in that; it derailed a lot of things all over the world, including on the islands and with the art…