[TheStoriesOfTop7] Ascend - Matthew Israel Manes / Philippines - IAPLC 2022

13 June 2024

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This year's Grand Prix went to the work, which evokes a towering rock wall. The wall is made of thin layers of slate-like stones, and the gentle curves drawn by the cracks in the rock evoke the flow of water. There are changes in how the wall surface looks by creating a rock shelf-like protrusion, and the shadows give the impression of looking up at a towering rock wall from below. In the space at the top center, the lower semicircle formed by the stones and the upper part reflected on the water surface, are combined to look like a round hole, which directs the eye toward it. This composition creates a floating sensation of "ascending" from the bottom to the top of the cliff, as the title suggests, and draws us into the world of this work. The spatial arrangement and the overall composition of this work are excellent, making it worthy of the Grand Prix. The aquatic plants in the rock crevices and rock shelves are modest, but they are effectively used to express a sense of nature and the flow of time in this world, making it a well-executed planted aquarium. The choice to use only fish swimming in the upper layer also paid off.

[TheStoriesOfTop7] Ascend - Matthew Israel Manes / Philippines - IAPLC 2022

The first place (Grand Prize) in the world ranking of the IAPLC 2022 went to the work "Ascend" by Matthew Israel Manes of the Philippines, which scored 1,418 overall points. This work was selected individually as one of the top 10 works by 6 out of 10 judges. And the Brazilian judge, Mr. Andrě Longarço especially praised it as his Best Aquarium. His comments are as follows.

IAPLC 2022 World Ranking Announcement - World Ranking 0001 - Grand Prize

Ascend

Author: Matthew Israel Manes / Philippines

Aquarium Size/W120 × D45 × H45 (cm)

Aquatic Plants

Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba'

Micranthemum sp.

Bucephalandra sp.

Lilaeopsis brasiliensis

Glossostigma elatinoides

Marsilea crenata

Ranunculus inundatus

Riccardia chamedryfolia

Hemianthus micranthemoides

Rotala mexicana 'Goias'

Fish & Invertebrates

Poropanchax normani

Cherry shrimps

AWARDS

World Ranking 0001 Grand Prize IAPLC 2022

Best of Show & 1st Place AGA 2022 - Aquatic Garden 220 ~ 320L

Comments

As an Aquascape artist, this is my best year yet. I said I would not watch the YouTube video on the announcement day. Why? Just like last year, I was anxious, and my heart trembled. I do not like that feeling. I was at church that evening. I requested my best friend Nico to watch the video for me. He agreed to tell me the outcome later. Results came out. "Are you ready to see your rank?" he asked. "Yes," I replied. When he handed me his phone, the word GRAND PRIZE flashed across the screen. There are no words to describe how I felt that night. My tears suddenly burst out because I remembered this was just my dream. I put a lot of effort into this. I had made a pledge to myself before the announcement day that I would bring triumph to my nation. It will be recognizable on a global scale. The grand championship will be won by a Filipino for the first time ever. We know IAPLC is one of the world's most prestigious aquascaping contests. If you win the GC, it's a remarkable history in the world of Aquascaping

Comments from Mr. Andrě Longarço (Brazil)

What an amazing and awesome job! The effect caused by the perspective and the plateaus created with the rocks provided an incredible and very natural atmosphere. The use of well-defined lines of force and a lot of shadow brought strength, dynamism and personality to this layout, which despite not working on an unprecedented idea, brought a lot of innovation and personal touches to this version, that set it apart from the other brilliant works of this year. The use of plants with leaves of different textures and larger in the regions close to the observer, brought a lot of gain in the sense of perspective and depth, and the monochromatic tonality gave class to the work. The choice of fish and their small size were also very important to enhance this effect. In this way we have a grandiose and monumental look. The displacement of the empty point to "the Golden Ratio" gives harmony and a lot of naturalness to the composition. In the same way that the use of this same technique vertically, it brought aesthetic gains to the layout, since the aesthetic strength of the rocks is also displaced to the upper golden ratio. (vertically speaking) Just as a comment, I would not have used the red neocaridina shrimps in this layout, as they could have harmed the final result, if they were more evident. I confess that the front portion of the work seemed a little full of plants, and therefore, I missed another void or empty space like a beach, with cosmetic sand in this position, but nothing that disapprove this impressive work. Works like this that make our community more powerful! Congratulations on your dedication, talent, and audacity.

Comments from Mr. Frederic Fuss

This is a testament of hope.
The work speaks to me. And yet at first I couldn't explain why.
It's the design of a cave an idea that has been around long before. And at the same time this is something special.
As a juror it is my duty to analyze the work submitted to me.
So I first set about drawing on the picture.
If you mark the focus points it doesn't make much sense. Of course all points have a structure but the structures appear very similar. The design is almost symmetrical.
It made more sense when I started drawing ovals from the vanishing point and vectors that go in curved curves rather than straight lines.
You created a tunnel effect.
Caves have the property of triggering anxiety but you show us the way out.
A powerful message that reaches people of all ages. "Do not fear the light is near".
A strong message a good message a message that we can all use in difficult times.
Thank you for that!

Comments from Mr. Andre Longarço

Monumental and breathtaking work.
Despite not starting from a new idea this masterful work brought a lot of innovation and personal touches thanks to the way in which the author used the hardscape creating plateaus that accentuated the perspective providing an incredible and very natural atmosphere.
The lines of force are easily noticed accentuated even more by the perfect use of shadows.
In this work the intelligent use of green plants with different textures and sizes stands out which give class to the work using larger leaves in the region closest to the observer emphasizing the sense of perspective and depth.
The empty point when positioned in the golden proportion brought harmony naturalness and a lot of proportion to this composition which even developing on a single rock wall makes evident the harmonious 3:2 proportion in this montage.
The choice of very small “lamp-eyes” was smart as it contributed to enhancing the grandeur of the scenery. I would only be more cautious in the future in using colored Neocaridines in works like this as the intense red in this case could have gotten in the way if they were more evident.
I particularly question the excessive amount of plants in the frontal plane which in my opinion lacks a cosmetic sand void even to create a counterpoint to the upper void but definitely it's just a detail and that in no way discredits this impressive work.

Well I can't get enough of looking at this beautiful layout as it's both very intense and simple. Less is more.

Works like this make our community stronger!
Congratulations on your dedication talent and daring.
You are my number one.

Comments from Mr. Juan Puchades Rufino

This is without a doubt a masterpiece of rock arrangement. Slice by slice the author created a perfectly balanced scenario with a huge understanding of the natural erosion created by water with the pass of time.

About the tank I just deducted some points about the long term viability and the maturity of plants.
This is no doubt the masterpiece of 2022 for my taste and a great candidate for best of show. Congratulations.

Comments from Mr. Jhonny Vanegas Cardenas

To be in this aquascaping level you have to be a nature perfect observer. I see dedication time patience nature understanding respect research in one layout.
The feelings with this tank is honestly one of the greatest feelings in this contest thank you for sharing with us this masterpiece and for me Best of Show. Well deserved all points. :)

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