My girl friend and I will be visiting the sculpture at the De Young museum in Golden Gate park soon.  In many ways pruning is sculpture too.  I like to think is that way including the fact that it is living and will soon be sprouting out and in some cases get pretty big.  Pollarding is pretty radical but causes quite a show in ornamentals like Mulberry and Sycamore.  I just learned about stooling of smoke bush last year.  Forty years pruning and who would a thunk.  It makes for nice foliage but no flowers.  Actually pretty nice.