Embrace - IIAC 2022 #49 Luis Cardoso / Portugal

The Korea International Aquascaping Contest (KIAC) 2025 has just concluded its registration phase with resounding success, affirming its position as one of the world's leading aquascaping events.

Every year around this time, the entire global aquascaping community holds its breath, turning its attention to Niigata, Japan. The IAPLC Awards Ceremony (The Nature Aquarium Party) is not just an event to honor the best artists; it's a global celebration where we are inspired, learn, and admire the pinnacle of aquascaping art.

Aquascaping is not just the art of arranging plants; it’s a passion for the vibrant creatures living within. For large aquariums (200 liters/50 gallons and up), experienced hobbyists often seek out rare fish with unique beauty and complex behaviors to elevate their aquatic space.

Big News! The top 100 results of the 2025 "Great Wall Cup" International Landscape Architecture Competition (CIAC) have been announced!

The results of the IAPLC 2025 (International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest) have just been announced, and with them, a wave of emotions has swept through the global aquascaping community. For some, it's the thrill of victory; for others, the sting of disappointment. But for everyone, it's a testament to the passion, dedication, and artistry that define this unique hobby.

“IAPLC2025” received 1,533 entries from 77 countries and areas. After careful evaluation, this year’s world rankings have been determined. And we are delighted to announce them here.

The moment I saw this aquascape my eyes were completely capti-vated, because it is packed full of highlights. I was fascinated by its unforgettable view.

In just a few days, the entire aquascaping world will hold its breath as it watches the most anticipated event of the year: the announcement of the results of the International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest (IAPLC) 2025. This is the world's largest and most prestigious aquascaping competition, organized by ADA of Japan. It's a stage to honor artistic aquascapes and a playground for artists from all over the world to showcase their talent, creativity, and passion.

The work expresses the swirling flow of water by using several thin pieces of driftwood. The driftwood looks like the roots of a tree washed by the water, creating a successful fusion of formative beauty and a sense of nature. The shadows of the protruding stones look like the entrance to a cave, adding variety to the aquascape.

The work recreates a distinctive natural landscape with bent driftwood and reddish-brown stones. The work depicts a narrow stream of cosmetic sand flowing from the center and right side of the aquascape and merging in the foreground. The aquatic plants are impressive and fit this unique landscape.

It is a Nature Aquarium style work with a large piece of driftwood as the main element. The ferns covering the driftwood and the dense foliage of Anubias and Cryptocoryne give a sense of the passage of time. The red floating leaves are also nice accents.

This work emphasizes perspective through a painterly technique. The leaves of the ferns planted between the stones are aligned in the same direction to express the flow of water. In addition, the use of brightly colored stem plants in the background creates an aquascape with depth and a sense of freedom.

Layout materials in the composition of this work is very well-arranged, and the aquascape has a natural feeling. In the foreground, two large driftwood pieces are set up on the top forming a sense of stability as they are placed facing each other.

Placing in the top 100 |APLC rankings is quite an admirable feat, and earning the Grand Prize is a truly impressive and rare accomplish-ment, rising to the top of so many fine compositions.