Chinanews.com, Chengdu, January 23rd, title: Sichuan style bonsai "foreign fans" Chad: ingenuity to create "Chinese and Western beauty"
Reporter Yue Yitong
Digging fresh moss by the side of the village road, adjusting the automatic watering system, using coffee grounds as fertilizer, and pruning branches and leaves... In the Spring Festival of the Year of the Rabbit, Canadian Chad Sinclair is busy taking care of the Sichuan style bonsai he made himself.
The weather was cold, but he was busy sweating profusely, took off his down jacket, and only wore a short-sleeved T-shirt to work in full swing.
The "White Bear Bonsai Garden" located in Lianyi Village, Chongzhou, Sichuan is Chad's "secret garden".
As a "die-hard fan" of Sichuan style bonsai, 44-year-old Chad believes that in addition to reuniting with his family and experiencing Chinese New Year customs, the significance of the Spring Festival is also that it is a critical period for bonsai to survive winter and welcome spring.
Chad is busy tending to the bamboo bonsai he made himself.
Photo by Wang Lei
The story of Chad and Chinese bonsai starts from his childhood.
Influenced by his "China fan" grandmother, he has been curious about Chinese culture since he was a child.
By chance at the age of 9, Chad fell in love with Chinese bonsai at first sight, and then began to learn how to make bonsai.
"In the process of growing up, I gradually realized that if I want to learn the most authentic Chinese bonsai, I must go to China."
In 2003, Chad came to China to pursue his dream.
In the first 4 years, he traveled to many places, and finally "encountered" Sichuan style bonsai in Chengdu, and also determined the bonsai style he wanted to pursue.
As one of the four traditional schools of bonsai in China, although the curvilinear types of Sichuan bonsai are the most well-known, Chad prefers the relatively simple and straight-forward bamboo bonsai.
"Bamboo has strong vitality and aura, which is very similar to the feeling of Chinese culture." Among the nearly 100 bonsai in the "White Bear Bonsai Garden", bamboo bonsai firmly occupies the "C position".
Chad admitted that making bamboo bonsai makes him very relaxed, and he can't help but think of the bamboo forest behind his grandmother's house in Vancouver.
Bamboo bonsai carries his nostalgia, dreams and love.
"I also incorporate childhood memories and growth experiences into bonsai creation."
Chad is digging fresh moss.
Photo by Wang Lei
After years of research, Chad has gradually formed his own "Sichuan style bonsai" style.
His works combine the beauty of simplicity in the West and the beauty of Chinese artistic conception, pay attention to the overall landscape effect, and pay attention to the selection of materials and layout.
Today, Chad is a well-known bonsai artist in the surrounding area. In 2020, he was also invited to exhibit his works at the 23rd Chengdu Bonsai Exhibition, becoming the first foreign bonsai artist to participate in the exhibition.
Chad is playing the guqin.
Photo by Chen Xuanbin
In Chad’s life, in addition to making and taking care of bonsai, whenever he has free time, he will go to Chengdu Wangjiang Park, Baihuatan Park, and People’s Park to see bonsai, learn skills, find inspiration, and then go to the bonsai market and nursery " Gold panning".
"A good-looking decoration, a stone with a suitable shape, and a beautiful bamboo will make me very excited." Chad said that he bought some decorations related to rabbits and is starting to make Sichuan style bonsai with the atmosphere of the Year of the Rabbit.
In recent years, every time a satisfactory bonsai is completed, Chad and his wife will take photos and videos for it and share it on social media.
"I have received great reviews from bonsai enthusiasts all over the world," said Chad. "I don't want anyone to miss the stunning beauty of the Sichuan Pai bonsai."
Chad's small courtyard is full of bonsai.
Photo by Wang Lei
In Chad's view, the love for bonsai not only changed his life, but also acted as a key to open the "treasure box" of Chinese culture.
Meticulous painting, calligraphy, guqin, erhu... Over the past 20 years, Chad has been trying new cultural experiences.
"At first I came to China just to learn bonsai, but Chinese culture is so rich and beautiful, I want to understand and learn as much as possible, and let the world know how cool Chinese culture is."
Chad told the reporter that he will continue to improve his skills and continue to try to integrate more diverse cultures into bonsai creation, "In the future, I also want to open a Sichuan-style bonsai studio in Canada to provide cultural exchanges between Canada and China. Build a bridge." (End)