Preserved in Time

Presented by award-winning florist Yuka Konno, artist Mr. Shigeo Fujita and investor Mr Araki, Preserved in Time introduces Sydney to the ancient yet radically modern art of Dry Bonsai — sculptural works preserved and refined from once-living trees.

Each piece offers a contemplative alternative to living plants. They require no care, thrive in any space and carry the quiet beauty of impermanence — a philosophy rooted in Japanese wabi-sabi.

RSVP to AttendReserve FREE entry with limited capacity.

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Collector’s AccessEach bonsai is one-of-one and comes with provenance documentation. Select pieces are available during the exhibition. All works are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. Purchases include care recommendations and a certificate of authenticity.

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Exhibition Statement

While Dry Bonsai is contemporary in form, its roots lie in centuries of Japanese aesthetic philosophy. Like Ikebana (flower arranging), it distills natural elements into visual poems. Traditional bonsai encourages patience, mindfulness and the shaping of nature with humility. Dry Bonsai offers the same — but preserved in stillness.

When observing a bonsai, one considers:

• The distant view (pine, cherry blossom)
• The middle distance (flowering quince)
• The close-up (grass and wildflowers)

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Dry Bonsai captures all three, distilled into a hand-held, room-scaled sculpture. The thicker the trunk, the greater its age and thus, its value — a testament to both time and care.

Artist Biography - Mr Shigeo Fujita

Born in 1965 in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture, Shigeo Fujita is a pioneering figure in contemporary bonsai. His journey began with selling bonsai at Mitsukoshi in Orlando, USA (1989–1990), followed by opening his own shop in Harajuku in 1992, supplying bonsai to clients across Japan. By 2001, he had established a second store in Ebisu and launched a bonsai-themed restaurant, sparking a national bonsai renaissance.

In 2016, Fujita introduced DRY BONSAI®, the world’s first maintenance-free bonsai style — a concept that redefined the art form. Since registering the trademark in 2018, his exhibitions have been held at prestigious venues including Ginza G735 Gallery, Umeda Hankyu Department Store, and Jiyuugaoka Gallery Yururi. In 2019, he opened the DRY BONSAI® Tokyo Ginza Salon, followed by major showcases such as the 2021 Rolls-Royce nationwide tour, annual exhibitions at G735 Gallery, and a 2024 collaboration with Barneys New York.

In 2025, Fujita unveiled a Bonsai Model Room and was invited to exhibit at Milan’s renowned Salone del Mobile. He currently serves as Executive Director of the World Dry Bonsai Association and CEO of Iemoto Co., Ltd., continuing to elevate bonsai as a global sculptural discipline.

Investor Testament

A bonsai that has lived for many years and has been cultivated with special bonsai techniques, giving it a wonderful appearance. It takes a lot of time and effort. With years of bonsai experience, we carefully select valuable ones and beautifully attached the highest quality artificial flowers to create a dried bonsai cherry blossom. Dry Bonsai®︎, which Fujita developed independently with the themes of regeneration and redefinition, is now extremely popular around the world. We recommend this type as an object or special interior decoration in any location.

Words by Mr. Araki Yasumitsu‍

Host or Publisher Gaffa Gallery and Rooftop