Sandev Bonsai Space

About me

 

I was born in Zagreb, Croatia 1974. My father was a lawyer and my mother is a professor of russian and croatian language and literature. I have two brothers. Livio who is seven years younger than me and Lovro, seventeen years younger. My father died 1996 and my mother raised three of us alone from than on. I finished my secondary school in Zagreb. After highschool I graduated on School of Dental Medicine University of Zagreb. I have done my masters and doctors degree (PhD) as an assistant in School of Dental Medicine University of Zagreb, Department of Oral Surgery. I finished my specialty in oral surgery in the year 2004.

I have two beautiful sons from my previous marriage, Vlatko and Luka.

My present wife Duda has two children from her previous marriage also, Karmelo and Lorien. So we are all one big happy family. Duda is a professor of biology and chemistry. She works as a botanist in Botanical Garden University of Zagreb.

I fell in love with bonsai in year 1994-1995. Travelling in Italy, I saw a bonsai shop in Verona. After leaving this small shop, I immediately realised that my childhood dreams of dwarfs, elves, feries and a magical miniature kingdoms are possible.That fantasy world fused with my everlasting love for „japanese things“ and culture. I have red all books on the subject that I was able to acqiure (I still have aproximately 40 in my library). But internet linked people together and that made all the difference. To be honest… friends, the internet and Walter Pall made things going. I have a great privilege and honour to have the opportunity to learn bonsai from Walter Pall, one of the biggest and the best and most controversial bonsai artist of the world. At first, he was our guest demonstrator and teacher in Croatia, but that changed as he became a very good friend. Walter revolutionised and changed understanding of bonsai for many people that I know.

I was the first chairman and one of the founders of Bonsai Club Zagreb. I was leading a bonsai section in Croatian-Japanese Cultural and Economic Society.
My wife is my biggest support in bonsai with her love and knowledge about plants. She is full of understanding for all the time that I'm spending with plants.
My friends in bonsai and in life Mario and Chajko are the booster force, crazy bonsai loving people who keep our team working on and on. If any of us stumbles, next moment somebody pulls him up.
My bonsai is based on yamadori species native to Croatia.

Sandev