Starting Year: 2010;
Provenance: Italy;
Container: Ceramic Pot;
Source: Yamadori;

Style: Moyogi;
Height: 61cm;
Nebari: 33cm;
Estimated Age: 20 years old.

This Ulmus pumila has been in cultivation for nearly two decades. Collected by its previous owner about 15 years ago, the tree was acquired by the current artist two years ago, along with its most striking feature: a pronounced hollow carved into the trunk. This hollow, already visible in the early stages of its development, forms the emotional and structural core of the composition, hinting at age, hardship, and resilience.

In its future evolution, the artist plans to deepen and refine this hollow, making it more expressive and allowing its contours to guide a subtle shift in the viewing front. These changes aim to reveal more of the tree’s inner story, enhancing the tension between living bark and sculpted deadwood. Alongside this, the secondary and tertiary branches will be further developed, adding refinement and density to the silhouette while maintaining the elm’s lively, natural character.

Ulmus pumila, a species native to Siberia and northern China, is admired for its exceptional tolerance of cold and drought—qualities that contributed to its spread across Europe after the late 19th century. Its vibrant green, serrated leaves, small and oval in form, turn a clear yellow in autumn, offering seasonal contrast and visual rhythm. For bonsai, the species provides vigorous growth, fine ramification, and a texture that responds well to artistic shaping.

This particular tree stands on a nebari measuring 33 cm, with a total height of 61 cm. Its pot—49 cm wide, 36 cm deep, and 9 cm high—grounds the composition in a balanced and understated manner, allowing the viewer’s attention to remain on the powerful trunk line and developing canopy.

Together, the emerging hollow, the elm’s natural vigor, and the artist’s plans for refinement promise a composition that will continue to mature in both character and presence. It is a tree still in transformation, carrying the marks of its past while opening new possibilities for its future aesthetic expression.