Indonesian Suiseki Association

Ismail Saleh in his house taking care of a feronia lucida
Photograph by Budi Sulistyo

There are many masters of the art of bonsai, but very few that reach
the level of legends. Sadly the bonsai community lost a real legend
recently. Ismail Saleh was, without a doubt one of the rare legends of
bonsai, his passion and love of the art inspired thousands during his
lifetime and will continue to do so throughout the ages to come.

Nothing sends ripples through the bonsai world like the loss of such
a great teacher and artist and nothing saddens us more than to lose,
not only a friend, but also a great source of knowledge and
inspiration. It is with this in mind that we respectfully present this
tribute to Ismail Saleh, his art, and his teachings, he will be miss,
but never forgotten.

Ismail Saleh was born in Sukolilo, Pati, Central Java on 7 September
1926. His father who was a forest supervisor used to ask him to go
around in the forest that made him love more on trees, stones and
nature.

He was once an Attorney General and later on in 1985, when he was a
Minister of Justice, he joined the Indonesian Bonsai Society. He was
then appointed as the patron of the organisation. Hic serious
commitment and love in bonsai made bonsai in Indonesia flourish. Bonsai
which formerly was an exclusive art was changed into a people’s art
that was practiced by many people all around the country. He was
granted the title of “The Indonesian Bonsai Promoting Father” in 1994
by the Indonesian Bonsai Society.

In 1991 he led The Indonesian Bonsai Society to conduct the first
Asia Pacific Bonsai and Suiseki Exhibition and Convention. This
convention has been going on very well every two years and has become
one of the biggest bonsai and suiseki conventions in the world.

Besides a patron of the Indonesian Bonsai Society, he was also the
patron of the Indonesian Suiseki Association, a special member of the
Nippon Bonsai Association, Honorary member of the World Bonsai
Friendship Federation, and Honorary President of the International
Artistic Stone Association.

For all his prestation in improving the friendships between Japan
and Indonesia and his role in introducing Japanese arts to the
Indonesians, he was awarded The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred
Treasure on 28 August 1997 by The Japanese Emperor.

We mean this to be a dynamic gallery in which those who view it can
add any content that they may have by Ismail Saleh, be it scans of his
drawings, photographs of his bonsai, or photographs of Ismail Saleh
himself, simply by emailing them, with your name and a brief history of
the drawing or drawings, to will@artofbonsai.org. As always at AoB, the
owner of the pictures retains all copyrights and will receive full
credit for them. AoB only requests permission to use them in this
gallery. We hope you'll take the time and help us expand this gallery.

This tribute would not have been possible without the generous
doinations and information given by Budi Sulistyo. His love and respect
for Ismail Saleh is obvious and we wish to extend our deepest
appreciation for all he has done to help us create this tribute
honoring this great man.

source : http://www.artofbonsai.org/galleries/saleh.php