Bonsai and Wabi-Sabi

The notion of 'Wabi-Sabi' implies, among many other feelings, that perfection does not exist and that the pursuit of perfection leads only to frustration.

Although Wabi-Sabi is difficult to understand and all but impossible to express it can easily manifest itself in the art of bonsai.  That feeling you get when you study a bonsai.  The old bark expresses a feeling of great age while telling a story of time and the ultimate realisation of the beauty of imperfection and impermanence.

Perfection is only an illusion.  The pursuit of 'perfect imperfection' is what drives the art of bonsai. 

The bonsai in the images here is, to me, a great example of this pursuit and adds an additional level of satisfaction to the art of bonsai.