Bonsai at 14
January 24, 2026
Bonsai are an ongoing fascination of The Incredible Shrinking Man. They both show the resilience and beauty of smallness and represent some of the paradoxical aspects of human/nature relationships. Bonsai are creatures that teach us ways forward while reminding us of the delicate relationship between control and care. The dependance of a small potted tree on its caretaker reflects the role some of us see for humanity of this planet while others feel they represent the impossibility and even hubris of imagining such responsibility. As a 14 year old teenager during a vacation in Denmark, long before any reflections on the essence of bonsai, The Incredible Shrinking Man encountered a small oak tree in jeopardy, its roots exposed by road work and asphalt ambitions too close to an elfin forest. Despite its diminuitive size it was clear this was already an old tree with a thick trunk that had weathered the harsh winds along the shores of Nord-West Jutland. What do you do with hurt plants? The Shrinking Man ended up taking it back home where it was nurtured back to health as a bonsai.
The Incredible Shrinking Man compliled a small library addressing bonsai techniques, different species of trees, its history and philosophy and photographs of centuries old bonsai trees cared for over many generations. The care involved in bonsai potentially creates life experiences related to the value and beauty of smallness while nurturing an understanding of the precious bond with our living environment. As we shape the tree, the tree shapes us. The responsibility and interdependance that exists in care for a bonsai tree is no different from the responsibility and interdependance in caring for our planet.