[TheStoriesOfTop7] Longing - Takayuki Fukada / Japan - IAPLC 2015

Mr. Takayuki Fukada from Japan became the world No.1 for his work, "Longing" in this year's contest. He is indeed the Japanese aquascaper in 12 years to win the Grand Prix. The artful composition by using driftwood and its ingenious world of underwater he created are highly valued as the layout is the Best Aquarium of four judges. The following are the comments from the judges who selected his work as their Best Aquarium.

IAPLC 2015 Gallery - Look back history - World Ranking 0001

Longing 

Author: Takayuki Fukada / Japan 

Aquarium Size: W150×D60×H55 (cm)

Aquatic Plants

Micranthemum sp.
Eleocharis acicularis
Hemianthus callitrichoides "Cuba”
Eleocharis parvula
Staurogyne repens
Fontinalis antipyretica
Vesicularia sp.
Fissidens fontanus
Fissidens nobilis
Piccardia chamedryfolia
Bucephalandra sp. "Green"

Fish & Invertebrates

Iguanodectes spilurus

Comments

I still remember the day I received the IAPLC result. Just two days before that, the news of the passing of Mr. Amano spread across the world online and I was one of those who could not accept the fact. In such a state of mind, I received a familiar-looking enve- lope. When I looked at the envelope, I got very emo- tional knowing that this was the last 'report card' in which Mr. Amano had been involved in. I did not feel like opening the special envelope, so I decided to keep it beside the aquarium created for the contest and waited until I calmed down. In the end, it was late night of the day when I checked inside the enve- lope. I put all that I had into creating this layout as the compilation of my career and I was prepared to get whatever result. When I looked at my result, I honestly felt relieved rather than overjoyed. And after a while, indescribable feelings swirled around my mind and I woke up my wife from sleep to have a small celebration together. Every year, I received comments from Mr. Amano during Nature Aquarium Party and I was keenly aware that I was still not skilled enough. This year, Mr. Amano selected my layout as his Best Aquarium and this made me feel that my layout was recognized, even a little, by Mr. Amano and it was worth the efforts I have made. Lastly, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to my wife who has always been beside and supported me, my peer planted aquarium hobbyists across the world who inspire each other, and Mr. Amano, all the judges of IAPLC and ADA staff who organized this contest. Thank you very much.

Interview with the Grandprize Winner

Q: Tell us about the day you received the result?
A: Actually, I wasn't brave enough to open it right away. I was so nervous and i couldn't open it till late at the night. When all my family were asleep, I quietly and slowly opened the letter in front of my tank. But I still wasn't brave enough to see inside. So i was like holding it up to the light... Yes I did some embarrassing stuff...

Q: How did you feel when you saw "Grand Prix" on your letter?
A: Well.. I was actually more relieved than "thrilled". Honestly, I felt like "I reached my goal". Maybe I had some pressure and it was a weight off my shoulders. After a while, it finally seemed real to me, and I felt, "I made it!"

Q: What is the concept of this work?
A: The concept of this layout is flooded forest. When the rainy season arrives as in South America, a terrestrial forest is submerged as the water level increases. That was my very first idea, which I had always wanted to try. However, it was impossible to have an image without any clue, no matter how much I try to envisage such scenery. I was seeking any cue. Then I saw the book titled "SUIKEI" published by Mr. Amano previously. This book contains several photographs of underwater world in Amazon captured by Mr. Amano, then I could instantly develop my ideas and images. It was very helpful. The image in the front scenery was roots growing down from the land. And the background shows the concept of flooded forest. 

Q: Did you know what kind of materials to use from the beginning?
A: To be honest, while I had always wanted to portray "impression" of thin roots growing down like this, I'd been thinking what kind of materials would be suitable to represent it. However, it was hard to find "this is it!". Then I came across the thin driftwood that I used to create hiding place for fish. Since there are various kinds of thin driftwood. I did some experiment to submerge those driftwood for about a month to see its strength and how it could be bowed. And I used some good ones based on the trial. It was a hard work to assemble driftwood piece by piece. It was really painful.

Q: When was the best timing of photographing?
A: There was no monent to fell "Now is the time!" I rather hasd stronger intention to maintain a stable quality to some extent. But I would say the aquascape is good time to be photographed. When plants and fish blend in with the environment and start growing or swimming freely. 

Q: How long have you been aquascaping?
A: I have been participating in the contest for 7 years. but I actually started to have interest in this hobby more than 10 years ago. It was one day I accidentally stopped by an aquarium shop and found a book. The book was "Glass no Naka no Daishizen". It has been about 15 years since then. 

Q: Do you remember your first layout?
A: Actually, I still have my very first layout in this room, Although I didn't do well with my first entry on the contest in 2009, I still do maintain that layout. 

Q: You were placed in higher ranking in recent years.
A: My attitude toward a contest has changed when creating the work placed in 2nd ranking. Previously, I just didn't know what to do. Now I ask for advice from friends in the aquarium club that i belong. So I eventually started to get input from different people instead of just struggling all by myself. It was around 2013

Q: What do you keep in mind when creating a layout?
A: Well... Since it is my work, of course I try to create something I like. However, if it is for a contest, my work will be judged by other people. So, I always keep in mind if my message in the layout is clear to other people. Of course it is necessary to pursue your creation, but it is also important to make your layout understandable in that regard. Otherwise, I think it is hard to be recognized. 

Q: Is there any aquascaper you are looking at?
A: No one in particular, I am actually looking forward to seeing outrageous layouts from newcomers every year to be honest. Aquarists around the world have their own unique ideas. So I am more interested in what work everyone creates than whose work it is. 

Q: Message for the viewers.
A: There are many styles and forms to create a tank as an aquarium. However, as for creating an aquascape that Mr. Amano established as Nature Aquarium. I think he really refurbished the whole concept of traditional aquarium. Therefore, if anyone is thinking to start aquarium from now, I hope they enjoy creating and seeing the plants, fish and environment as one. 

Comment of Mr. Hiroshi Yamada (JAPAN)

This layout does not look crowded though it uses a lot of driftwood. Placing a large piece of driftwood in the foreground of the aquarium Usually conveys threatening impression to those who see it. The drift- wood used in this layout do not create such impression but have effect of adding further depth and strength to the layout. The sophisti- cated driftwood arrangement is outstanding; it is symmetric at a glance but in fact it incorporates many asymmetric elements every- where. Only shortcoming is insufficient underwater feel. Nevertheless, it was a great decision that the white sand in the foreground was not dragged up to the background. This, together with the positions of fish, successfully enabled the expression of underwater environment. Planting and growing of aquatic plants which are meticulous to the finest detail is splendid. It can be envisaged that this aquascape will later have a refreshing impression with brilliant contrast of aquatic plants while evoking the image of quiet, peaceful passage of time. The light shining from the back lures the people who see it to the world of imagination where there is another aquascape beyond that light. I feel this layout created with the outstanding sensibility is a mas- terpiece in the Nature Aquarium history.

Comment of Dr. Sergei M. Kochetov (RUSSIA)

First I would like to say that there was no problem with Best Aquarium selection at this IAPLC grading session. This layout was chosen as one of the best just from the beginning of examination. There was a novelty in presentation, accuracy and fineness in performance and what is the most important, this aquarium coincides with my own view on the underwater world of a flooded forest. Moreover fishes in this tank were not trivial ones. Besides I was very glad to see both an asymmetry of a foreground and fine image of the background which looks like a separate second underwater composition. In this way, two images in one layout have joined into one underwater landscape full of natural harmony. Everything here is looking very natural.

Comment of Dr. S.K. Unnikrishnan (INDIA)

Very skillfully and authentically crafted planted aquarium. All important aspects of a fresh water planted aquarium are strikingly balanced. The depth, arrangement of driftwood, carefully selected plant species and its vibrant growth and the shade area for fish to rest giving the impression of a dynamically balanced fresh water fish habitat. Some semblance with a mangrove ecosystem resulted from driftwood placement, but, that is brackish water one. In many layouts the drift- wood placement is out of proportion and here it is aptly balanced. The school of fish really merges with the habitat and does not give the impression that they are the "aliens" to this natural biotope. However, a little imbalance is there with respect to fish community. Really is an exceptionally unique layout. I never feel that I am evaluating the pho- tograph but rather the original aquarium itself. I am really impressed with the vibrant growth of plants not only on this layout but in other layouts also.

Comment of Mr. Takashi Amano (JAPAN)

While there were many layouts using driftwood, moss and under- growth this year, I felt a distinctive atmosphere and enchantment exclusively in this work. The selection of driftwood was very nice, which probably was one of the reasons for victory. What generates the distinctive impression of this work is mostly due to the framework of the driftwood itself. However, significant contributions are also made by the perspective created by the dynamic composition of drift- wood and the planting arrangement focused on detailed expression. All those elements are combined with each other, which produce a natural feel of its style. Fish seem comfortable swimming in the environment. The aquarium is carefully well-made in detail where we could see the creator's passions in every single piece of the layout.