INTRODUCTION
Dear bonsai friends,
Welcome to the ‘Best of’ 20 years Trophy !
Bonsai Association Belgium will organize this major European bonsai exhibition for the 20th time in February 2019.
We are grateful to you for making this yearly event as great as it is. Thanks to your participation as an exhibitor, trader, demonstrator, and even as a visitor, we can enjoy the beauty of bonsai all together.
The art of bonsai has evolved over the past 20 years. The trees have definitely changed in a good way! But also the bonsai clubs and their members have changed over the years. We have become older, and hopefully a little bit wiser. Bonsai clubs don’t function on only a local level anymore. We meet each other, learn from each other, and respect each other globally. Visits from international guests and bonsai professionals and the presence of the Internet has made scientific and artistic information more accessible. Nevertheless, there will always be a place for well-organized bonsai exhibitions, workshops and fairs in a friendly international atmosphere.
That’s where the Trophy comes in! You can join us in different ways.Click here to read more
Program ‘Best of’ 20 years Trophy

Friday February 8, 2019
13.00
Doors open (only for tickets including the Friday program)
14.00 – 16.00
- First preview of the bonsai, suiseki and pot exhibition
- The commercial space is not open on Friday!
16.00 – 20.00
DEMO Korean guest demonstrations (support by Mr. Kim Sae Won)
Cho Won Dong
Choi Song Ho
Her Youn Hang
Kang Sook Hoon
Kim Seok Ju
Lee Kwang Jong
18.00 – 21.00
Second preview of the bonsai, suiseki and pot exhibition
20.00 – 21.30
Welcome drink
21.30
End of the opening program

Saturday February 9, 2019
09.00
Entrance open to the international commercial space
09.30
Entrance open to the bonsai, suiseki and pot exhibition
13.00 – 17.00
DEMO
Masajuki Fujikawa (JP)
Ryan Neil (USA)
Vaclav Novak (CZ)
Gabriel Romero Aguadé (ES)
18.00
End of the public program
19.30
Dinner with prize giving ceremony (reservation needed)

Special guest Luis Vallejo will show ‘out of competition’ several bonsai from the Alcobendas Bonsai Museum

Sunday February 10, 2019
09.00
Entrance open to the international commercial space
09.30
Entrance open to the bonsai, suiseki and pot exhibition
09.30 – 12.30
DEMO by our Korean guests (support by Mr. Kim Sae Won)
Cho Won Dong
Choi Song Ho
Her Youn Hang
Kang Sook Hoon
Kim Seok Ju
Lee Kwang Jong
13.30 – 17.30
DEMO
Masajuki Fujikawa (JP)
Ryan Neil (USA)
Vaclav Novak (CZ)
Gabriel Romero Aguadé (ES)
18.00
End of the ‘Best of’ 20 years Trophy
DEMONSTRATIONS

Masayuki Fujikawa
Masayuki Fujikawa was trained by Mr. Masahiko Kimura for ten years, and became captain of his apprentices. After his father passed away, Masayuki took over the Fujikawa Hosei-en Nursery as owner of the second generation.
He is a professional bonsai artist and puts a lot of effort into Kindai-Bonsai magazine.
He participated in many exhibitions in and outside of Japan, and was a demonstrator at meetings in Europe and China.
Masayuki Fujikawa was one of the demonstrators at the 8th World Bonsai Convention in 2017.
He is member of the Nippon Bonsai Growers Cooperative, and member of the Nippon Bonsai Association.
He is chairman of the Ippin-ten Exhibition (North Kanto Bonsai Growers Cooperative). He received the most honorable title in Japan, Prime Minister Award for the 43rd Nippon Bonsai Sakufu-ten Exhibition.

Ryan Neil
Ryan Neil was born near the wild nature of the Rocky Mountains.
After six years of intensive study with Mr. Masahiko Kimura, he returned to Portland, Oregon, where he founded ‘Bonsai Mirai’. As a bonsai professional and a visual artist, he brings bonsai to a level of fine art. According to Ryan, the art of bonsai reflects the relationship between nature, culture and individual human beings. He shares his knowledge to achieve this to local bonsai enthusiasts and worldwide by his demonstrations, workshops and on line.
He was the initiator of The Artisans Cup in Portland, a major successful bonsai exhibition which set very high standards to American bonsai.
His bonsai compositions express the vast array of landscapes that people can recognize. It inspires a lot of us to proceed in this form of art.
A lot of you will remember Ryan from his demonstrations at the Trophy a few years ago.

Gabriel Romero Aguadé
Gabriel Romero Aguadé decided very early in life that he wanted to work with bonsai. He started his education in the BonsaIkebana school in Barcelona. After his studies, he became a professional bonsai teacher and artist in that same school.
His artistic life was influenced strongly by Master Noboru Kaneko with whom he studied in Japan.
In 2003 he founded his own bonsai school ‘Bonsai Sant Boi’ where he transmits his bonsai knowledge continually to his students. He maintains private bonsai collections and gives workshops to clubs.
His preferred bonsai species are Junipers. All styles and characters can be formed in Juniper trees.

Vaclav Novak
Vaclav Novak became interested in bonsai after a lecture of Mr. Hideo Kato in Prague in 1982. First bonsai was a hobby, but after 8 years he started Bonsai Centrum in his native town Libochovice in 1990. Together with his partner Karel Kalouš they were setting up gardens, took care of the nursery and grew bonsai.
Vaclav Novak is a very active person in the different organisations of the bonsai scene. First he was co-founder of the local Bonsai Club Libochovice. Later the Czech Bonsai Association was founded on his initiative. He was elected president, and organised the 2003 EBA-ESA Convention in Jihlava.
Since 2004 he was a board member of the European Bonsai Association.
In the meanwhile he has given demonstrations and workshops in a several European countries, and in Brasil, USA, Vietnam and China etc.
Vaclav is one of the few bonsai artists who has put at least one bonsai at each of every 19 former Trophies !
KOREAN GUESTS

Kim Seok Ju
Kim Seok Ju learned bonsai since he was only 16 years old.
In 1989 he opened his own bonsai nursery Taechowon.
He received several gold and silver prizes at different Korea Bonsai Exhibitions. He is consultant of the Korea Bonsai Masterpiece Exhibition and the Gopung Exhibition.
Kim Seok Ju has given several demonstrations outside Korea : in China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Belgium and Italy.
In 2017 he was one of the demonstrators at the BCI and ASPAC Convention.

Lee Kwang Jong
Lee Kwang Jong studied bonsai from 1993 till 2003.
He opened his own bonsai nursery Geum Hyeon Bonsai nursery in 2005.
He received several grand prizes at different Korea Bonsai Grand Exhibitions. He demonstrated outside Korea in Poland, Czech Republic and China.
For more than 10 years he was technical advisor at the Morningcalm Arboretum.
Lee Kwang Jong was demonstrator at the Asia Bonsai Friendship Federation Convention and was rewarded with the ‘Artist of the Year Award’ at the 1st Korea Bonsai Artist Society exhibition in 2017.

Her Youn Hang
Her Youn Hang started to study bonsai in 1990.
He opened his private bonsai nursery in 1999 : Cho Sim Won.
He was demonstrator at the Korea Bonsai Masterpiece Exhibition, and at the Go Poong Exhibition, and received several prizes at both exhibition over several years.
Her Youn Hang was demonstrator at the World Bonsai Friendship Federation Convention in 2013, and at the Asia Pacific Bonsai Friendship Federation Convention in 2017.

Kang Sook Hoon
Kang Sook Hoon studied bonsai from 1988 and opend his own bonsai nursery Dongsan Bonsai Art nursery in 1991.
In 1996 he completed the advanced managemente course in agriculture at the Kyung San university.
He received several awards and gold prizes at the Grand Exhibition of Korea Bonsai Growers Cooperative, where he was demonstrator in 2017.

Cho Won Dong
Cho Won Dong studied bonsai at Dae Cheong Won and Baek Am San Bang.
In 2003 he opened his own bonsai nursery Song Seol San Bang, and five years later his bonsai school.
He was demonstrator in the Czech National Bonsai Exhibition in 2008, and he was Forest Service Chief at the 2015 Korea Bonsai Grand Exhibition.
Cho Won Dong earned several times prizes at the Cheong Poong Bonsai Exhibition.
He was demonstrator for the China Bonsai Artist Association and at the Asia Pacific Bonsai Friendship Federation Convention in 2017.

Choi Song Ho
Choi Song Ho studied bonsai between 1993 and 1996.
Shortly afterwards he opened his own bonsai nursery Song Ho Won.
He received grand prizes and excellence award on several Hanbat Bonsai Exhibitions, where he is now in the masterpiece selection committee.
Choi Song Ho was a demonstrator at the Asia Pacific Bonsai Friendship Federation Convention in 2017.
REGISTRATION & ONLINE TICKETS
BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE
Ticket Type | Price | Qty. | Cart |
---|---|---|---|
Full Weekend Ticket (inc. Friday) | €38 | ||
Sunday Ticket - With Demo's | €27 | ||
Sunday Ticket - Without Demo's | €17 |
Supported payment methods:
TICKETS AT THE DOOR
Ticket Type | Price |
---|---|
Full weekend Ticket (inc. Friday) |
€42 |
Saturday Ticket – With Demo’s | €27 |
Saturday Ticket – Without Demo’s | €17 |
Sunday Ticket – With Demo’s | €27 |
Sunday Ticket – Without Demo’s | €17 |
Saturday Dinner Ticket – with prize giving ceremony | Online Only |
Registration is free and open for every bonsai amateur and professional in Europe.
REGISTER YOUR TREES (closed)
thank you to everyone who registered!
PHOTOGRAPHY POLICY
Photography policyTRADERS
Chris Thomas
Extrem Yamadori Bonsai
Les tablettes de Pascal
Wolfgang Meinhardt
LOCATION
Location
Trophy XX will be held in the Limburghal in Genk where we have the disposal of the complete venue floor. This will cover a 4000M² competition floor and a 4000M² vender and proffesionals aera. Demo’s will be held in the Auditorum and can seat up to 650 guests
Jaarbeurslaan 6,
3600 GENK
BELGIUM
Free Parking
The Limburghal has a very large parking space for about 600 cars.
Be aware: Don’t forget to place you European parkingcard behind your front windscreen if you park on the Jaarbeurslaan!
Contact
Do you have a question regarding the Trophy? Please send us an email:
secretaris@bonsaiassociation.be
Are you having any technical issues or problems regarding registration and online tickets?