It’s time to help contribute for biggest aquarium gallery online

SUBMIT HEREVIEW GALLERY

[TheStoriesOfTop7] Congo - Josh Sim / Malaysia - IAPLC 2017

306

Featuring the skillful expression of perspective using driftwood and overwhelming natural feel, this creation has the contents and dignity suited for the Grand Prize winning layout. Particularly, its layout formation is remarkable and impressive; it truly represents an underwater aquascape which is a habitat for fish while incorporating the element of tropical rainforest landscape with hanging aerial roots and vines into the tunnel-like composition that adds depth to the layout. 

This work is based on a good understanding of the essence of Nature Aquarium. Although only green plants are used in this layout, the diversity of plant species in natural ecosystem is produced by arranging a variety of plants that develop different shape of leaves and grow differently in the right places. This plant arrangement is worthy of mention. The superb overall quality of this layout was highly evaluated.

Mr. Josh Sim's "Congo" (Malaysia) won this year's Grand Prix. The contest has been receiving so many high quality entries in recent years, and it has been very difficult to have the points difference between the top-winning works evaluated with only six criteria. In order to win Grand Prix, obtaining 10 extra points of Best Aquarium from judges became necessary for contestants in the last few contests. This year, however, Mr. Sim's "Congo" grabbed the top prize without being selected to Best Aquarium by any judges. And this clearly tells us that his layout was created with perfection and equally apprised by judges beyond their per- sonal preferences. Among the judges, especially Mr. Frantisek Kolin (Czech Republic), Mr. David Boruchowitz (U.S.A.) and Mr. Armando Miguel Alves (Brazil) praised the work very highly. This layout doesn't represent surprising or unexpected outcomes, but Mr. Sim rather focused on crafting even the smallest details with a clear picture of fish habitat in mind. Mr. Sim, a regular IAPLC contestant whose highest ranking previously was 4th, has been known for his abilities as an aquascaper. This year's win is certainly gratifying for him. Though the style of the winning work is nothing new - following in the footsteps of numerous layout works in the previous contests, it's highly regarded that he faith- fully created what truly satisfies his creativity instead of something visually striking. But still, we would venture to say that even a small element which helps bring forth originality could have seen in the prize-winning work. It is also noteworthy about this year's contest results that the list of the top winners is dominated by worldly acclaimed aquascapers, including Mr. Sim. Although the overall quality of entries has definitely improved, there is a sense of stagnation in regard to layout expression. Thus, new creativity and even higher levels of sophistication of layout expression are expected from aquascapers in future contests

IAPLC 2017 Gallery - Look back history - World Ranking 0001 - Grand Prize

Congo

Author: Josh Sim / Malaysia

Aquarium Size/W150×D60×H50(cm)

Aquatic Plants

Anubias barteri var, nana

Bolbitis heudelotii

Bucephalandra sp.

Cryptocoryne parva

Eleocharis sp.

Hygrophila angustifolia

Hygrophila pinnatifida

Hydrophila balsamica rafinesqiue

Hydrocotyle vulgaris

Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae

Marsilea hirsuta

Vesicularia dubyana

Vesicularia ferriel

Fish & Invertebrates

Phenacogrammus interruptus (Juvenile)

Dermogenys pusillus

Otocinclus affinis

Caridina multidentata

Caridina sp. malayan

AWARDS

World Ranking 0001 Grand Prize IAPLC 2017

Comments

The story behind this layout is slightly different from my past layouts. I decided the title "Congo" even before I had started the tank set-up - this has never happened before, as the titles of my past layouts were normally created seconds before I had submit- ted them to the contest. But this year, I follow the concept "Congo" right from the start and it was clear from the beginning what I wanted to create. It is about an underwater version of Congo forest - a dark and mysterious place where is kind of dan- gerous but also booming with energetic vibes of wild lives. My past layouts were never created with any specific type of fish in mind, the selection of fish was normally made few weeks before the final photo was taken. But in my layout "Congo" this year, it was very clear since the planning stage that Congo Tetra will be my fish! My sense of purpose in this layout was very strong, it was like following a well written script and my direction was clear. This is a layout with story, not a story created for this layout.

Related on News & Press
Leave your comments
Lastest on News & Press

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Undying - Steven Chong / United States - IAPLC 2020

    The Gold prize winning work presents a remarkable driftwood composition. The depth that goes beyond the size of this aquarium is created by expanding the central open space towards the far right side, along with the drastically arranged driftwood. In addition, a mirror embedded in the substrate gives an interesting visual effect; it looks as if a river is running in the aquascape, or the driftwood is floating in the air, depending on the viewer's viewpoint. The visual impact is enhanced by the skinny branches placed behind the large driftwood that makes up the framework of the composition, and the subtle and low-key planting of epiphytes

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Eden - Siak Wee Yeo / Malaysia - IAPLC 2020

    This year's Grand prize goes to an energetic driftwood aquascape. When this type of composition is made, rocks are often glued together to form the framework, but in this work, large driftwood pieces are boldly used to build the aquascape's foundation. Driftwood is also used for the stalactite-like extensions that hang down from above. This gives a softer impression to the aquascape than making them with rocks, and helps match their texture with that of the driftwood framework.

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Creek in Forest - Qi Zhang / China - IAPLC 2019

    The third Bronze Award winning aquascape gives an interesting impression made by a nice blending of its diorama like aspects and underwater appearance. Among many entries showcasing forest landscapes, this layout rather represents a fairy tale scenery than depicting a realistic forest image. It leads us to enjoy this layout simply as an underwater scene where fish live. Great planting details; especially the presentation of red plants is exquisitely effective, which enriches the visual presentation and creates a fantasy like atmosphere

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Flood Season - Quang Minh Nguyen / VietNam - IAPLC 2019

    Here is the second Bronze Prize winning layout characterized by its gentle wood work. The maker mainly used moss for the layout, but he has avoided a monotonous manner by planting lighter green plants in spots. The white decorative sand laid under driftwood branches helps prevent the aquascape from becoming too gloomy, and it also successfully enhances the underwater appearance. This layout is highly acclaimed for making a moderate amount of open space and the well-balanced composition. What makes it unique is the sense of serenity found in the expression of natural feel.

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Fallowness - Siak Wee Yeo / Malaysia - IAPLC 2019

    Interestingly, the first Bronze Award winning aquascape uses straight driftwood pieces similar to the ones in the Grand prize work. Making the most of the characteristics of driftwood, the layout forms a unique composition by emphasizing the horizontal lines. The layout showcases a wonderful underwater presentation with its perfect positioning of fish and a pleasant sense of water flow given by the driftwoods and supporting rocks oriented in the same direction. The maker intentionally photographed the aquascape in the way, making the water surface look like an open space, and this worked favorably for the evaluation.

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Guardians - Martial Hervy / France - IAPLC 2019

    An authentic concave aquascape won the second Silver Award. Its radially-arranged wood work is reminiscent of Takashi Amano's Nature Aquarium layouts while planting details and the color tone are nicely done in European style. The nice blending of these characteristics is, indeed, the originality of this aquascape. The execution of the layout is outstanding in terms of the composition balance and plants' conditions. However, the maker could improve the presentation of fish habitat by putting more emphasis on the fish's presence.

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Summer Solstice - Fuhong Guan / China - IAPLC 2019

    The first Silver Award is given to a magnificent layout work presenting a circular opening in the center of the tank. The entries with eccentric compositions usually polarize the judges' opinions, but this aquascape received favorable responses from the majority of them. We can assume that this is because of its balanced composition work, finely adjusted on both sides, and beautiful color combination. Although the aquascapes that mainly consist of moss often give a gloomy impression, the maker avoids it by effectively presenting the red colors of plants and fish in this layout. The blue gradation background is also visually effective.

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Tankei - Takayuki Fukada / Japan - IAPLC 2019

    Mr. Takayuki Fukuda (Japan) won the Gold prize with his aquascape layout. What is most striking about his work is its representation of the cliffs protruding from both the left and right sides of the composition. Using massive rocks projecting strong shadows alone could impart an oppressive impression, but he prevented it by tactfully making an open space in the center through the upper section. The stem plants shown in the opening under the cliffs also soften the image. These are adept strategies of a creator who is an expert of layouts of this sort

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Dream On - Josh Sim / Malaysia - IAPLC 2019

    This year's Grand prize goes to Mr. Josh Sim of Malaysia. What inspires us the most about this work is its novel and powerful approach to the composition brought out by fine planting details. This aquascape was created faithfully to the teachings of Takashi Amano, founder of Nature Aquarium and this contest; "Go bold with your composition, but careful with planting." Although the driftwood pieces used as the primary layout material of this aquascape are rectilinear and relatively large, their combination and arrangement are creating smart visual effects. The making of eccentric layouts in a deliberate manner seems to be one of the latest trends in contest submissions, but we believe that this layout is highly regarded because it achieves a strong impact while appearing less suggestive.

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Home - Jin Liang / China - IAPLC 2018

    This layout is highly regarded with its dynamic composition, giving a strong sense of perspective. We can find it in the shadows on the central pillar and at the right corner of the scene, the series of arches that run from the front left section to the right back corner, and the wall-like structure behind the arches, that is built along the left front and the right rear side. Every aspect of the composition is intricately calculated to create depth in the layout, but regretfully, this also makes the layout almost look artificial

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] TURO DE L'HOME - Bernat Hosta Rovira / ANDORRA - IAPLC 2018

    The layout is finely crafted with small tree branches and rocks, and is in many ways more like a painting. Although this work seems antithetical to this year's Grand Prix layout, it should be highly regarded as a wonderful planted layout with the precisely calculated composition and the meticulous arrangement using a variety of aquatic plants. There is a pleasing depth of field ratio between the foreground and background. Moreover, the layout's lively style gives a positive impression. A refreshing aquascape that makes you feel like you enjoy a view of a nearby pond from a bright green forest in early summer.

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Butterfly Hideaway - Steven Chong / United States - IAPLC 2018

    The composition creates an image as if you were looking up at a land erosion from a cave. Making hanging vines and spreading roots with fine branches is a commonly practiced technique nowadays, but it is tastefully done in this layout. The creator tactfully emphasizes perspective by attracting your eye to the space overlapping between the V-shaped open space located at the top of the aquascape and the smaller open space on the right side. On the other hand, the presentation of plant arrangement, that is mostly composed of mosses and ferns, looks flat and unappealing

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Greener Where You Water It - Hiep Hong / United States - IAPLC 2018

    The arrangement of Tiger lotus leaves impression in this Nature Aquarium style layout. Composed of driftwood and rocks, its simple concave composition is well-balanced on both sides, and it successfully presents a powerful aquascape with thick driftwood branches protruding towards the open space. The red color of Tiger lotus is accentuated against the green background, where mosses and ferns are mainly used. The aquascape is visually accented with floating leaves growing out through the driftwood

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Tree spirit - Takayuki Fukada / Japan - IAPLC 2018

    Although there are many entries with the composition divided into three sections by driftwood pieces, we can draw a line between this layout and the rest in light of the impression given and manner of expression. This layout gives a brighter impression with the central driftwood piece only slightly angled in order to receive more light, the use of white cosmetic sand, and open spaces and red-color stem plants viewed through driftwood branches. The driftwood in good thickness create the layout's dynamic ambience

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Towards The Sun - Nguyen Minh Toan / VietNam - IAPLC 2018

    The Gold prize-winning layout is acclaimed with its strong sense of depth created by the dynamic concave composition. The view of the deep valley eroded by floods with a sinkhole behind it is the highlight of the layout, and the schooling fish and ripples on the water's surface create a sensation as if the land once again sunk under the water. The layout is elaborately crafted with much care put into the details, but has less challenging plant arrangement with a common combination of mosses and epiphytic plants

  • [TheStoriesOfTop7] Yururi (relaxing) - Hironori Handa / Japan - IAPLC 2018

    This year's IAPLC Grand Prix goes to an authentic Nature Aquarium style layout. Among the reasons for this work's success is the creator's high aspiration in the layout style, that is built upon the basics of a planted layout. Bringing out the beauty of plant clusters through plant arrangement is the key principle, or basics of planted layout. This layout showcases healthy and beautiful clusters of both sun-loving plants, such as stem plants, and shade plants, such as Cryptocoryne. The composition is in the classic triangular form. The creator achieved a very powerful, and persuasive aquascape, that goes beyond aquascapes of eccentric compositions, by perfecting the compositional balance and the arrangement of aquatic plants. This is a stately planted layout with the spirit of Takashi Amano, founder of Nature Aquarium