crashbonsai

September 5, 2002 3:03 AM

crashbonsai No passengers have been injured in CrashBonsai accidents, although some drivers have reported a brief, even euphoric loss of consciousness.
posted by ginz (14 comments total)

link via oelie.com
posted by ginz at 3:04 AM on September 5, 2002

that's very cool

"CrashBonsai is the creation of John Rooney, an artist who is torn between the desire to create and destroy."

He creates destruction, but it must take a hell of a lot of painstaking work to create the model below:

http://www.crashbonsai.com/gallery5.html
posted by derbs at 3:20 AM on September 5, 2002

This is beyond brilliant. Thanks ginz.
posted by Witty at 3:28 AM on September 5, 2002

Just adding my cheerleading comment. Cheers ginz!

Reminds me of J.G.Ballard somehow ...
posted by walrus at 4:01 AM on September 5, 2002

Morbid: I wonder if they have celebrity crash bonsai? The James Dean model would probably be popular.
posted by Shane at 5:39 AM on September 5, 2002

I'd like him to add tiny people having sex in the cars when they crash, because I'm a big J.G. Ballard fan.
posted by MrBaliHai at 7:28 AM on September 5, 2002

The crashed tankers are cool. I guess he actually set them on fire for super realism.

I think he could expand, though, and not just head-on collide model cars with little trees, but create huge freeway pile-ups, or pedestrial accidents, or cars running into buildings.

Neat link.
posted by jennyb at 7:51 AM on September 5, 2002

I think part of the point is that it's a living plant, not just a diorama. I'm trying to think of other ways to do it with a live bonsai, but all that comes to mind is buildings with tree limbs smashed through them, which wouldn't be living.

Maybe a political statement? Bonsai Lynch? It would probably be popular with the wrong sort of people.
posted by dhartung at 8:35 AM on September 5, 2002

I'm trying to think of other ways to do it with a live bonsai, but all that

What about little, teeny treehouses!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:18 AM on September 5, 2002

little living car crash sculptures.

I love it!
posted by mikrophon at 9:32 AM on September 5, 2002

With really small bonsai you could probably work in a model of Godzilla(c). That's gotta be cool...

That reminds me, when I was a kid, there were models of giant monsters wrecking cities. I had the giant (well, 6") scorpion, complete with cardboard diorama, teensy crushed cars and wee people running away.
posted by Shane at 9:42 AM on September 5, 2002

I've now posted 100 comments to MeFi!

Waitaminnit -- now I've posted 101. Gee, that moment didn't last long.
posted by Shane at 9:44 AM on September 5, 2002

Just when I am starting to think I am pretty clever, I see a brilliant idea like this one that just makes me want to eat my pet rock. (or chuck it at the clever people... one of the two.)
posted by grimbrim at 11:15 AM on September 5, 2002

I think he could expand, though, and not just head-on collide model cars with little trees. . . .

I love this, but I agree with jennyb -- some of the cars barely fit inside the bonsai containers. And what could be more American, especially in the Boston area, than a huge chain of wrecked vehicles?

I think part of the point is that it's a living plant, not just a diorama.

On the other hand, as dhartung points out, the growing trees themselves require certain conditions. In any case, this is one of the most interesting links I've seen in awhile. Thanks ginz.
posted by LeLiLo at 12:00 PM on September 5, 2002