Beringin, Ficus benjamina L., is a plant of the Moraceae family known for its tall stature and large trunk. Another common feature is its aerial roots or tendrils that protrude from the trunk/branches. Some tendrils adhere to and coil around the main trunk, further enhancing its strength and beauty.

My childhood and adolescence were spent on the edge of the forest as my late father served as a forest ranger on the slopes of Mount Argopuro. I was accustomed to the mountain air and towering trees. In between his duties, my father had a hobby of creating bonsai from mountain plants. One of the most frequently made bonsai was the beringin. Among the bonsai that still exist to this day, I was intrigued to paint one of them.

In terms of painting composition, there weren’t too many challenges. Because these bonsais were crafted by my father in such a way that they represent the grandeur and beauty of the beringin tree. The process of painting this bonsai took quite some time. In addition to the dry-on-dry watercolour technique I used, in every curve and stroke, I felt as if I were showcasing my father’s work, sensing his involvement in this painting.

Although we no longer live in the mountains, the memories and various experiences we had during that time will never be forgotten. Memories, that’s what I named this painting. Depicting the memories of my childhood on the mountain slopes. The beringin bonsai is a memory, the process of painting it is a memory, and the painting itself is unforgettable memories.