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

07 May 2024

2820

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

The 6th place (Bronze Prize) in the world ranking was awarded to "TURO DEL'HOME" by Mr.Bernat Hosta from Andorra. It is a great work that appears like a painting. Three judges selected this aquascape as their best aquarium. Their comments are listed below:

IAPLC 2018 Gallery - Look back history - World Ranking 0006 - Bronze Prize

TURO DE L'HOME

Author: Bernat Hosta Rovira / ANDORRA

Aquarium Size/W90×D50×H43(cm)

Aquatic Plants

Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba'

Micranthemum sp.

Rotala rotundifolia

Bucephalandra sp.

Ceratopteris pteridoides

Cryptocoryne parva

Cryptocoryne petchii

Hydrocotyle tripartita

Eleocharis parvula

Anubias barteri var. nana "Pangolino”

Anubias barteri var. nana

Fish & Invertebrates

Trigonostigma espei

AWARDS

World Ranking 0006 Bronze Prize IAPLC 2018

1st Place AGA 2018 Aquatic Garden 120~200L

Comments

I checked the mailbox in the morning and Surprise !!! There was the post notification from ADA Japan!! At that moment I knew I could have a very good rank, so I felt very proud and very satisfied. Since I couldn't go for the letter until afternoon, I spent all the day with different emotions and thinking, trying to be patient until then. Later, I went to pick up the letter from the post office being very nervous and anxious. Once I had the letter on my hands I wanted to share this moment with my two daughters who were waiting for me in the car. I gave it to my older daughter to open and read it for me because I was too excited to do anything. She was nervous and excited, too. To open this kind of envelop is not easy, and it becomes much more difficult when you are nervous. Finally she opened and read it and told us "6th"... It was an explosion of mixed emotions : happiness, pride and excitement for all. It was a special moment for me and my daughters that we immediately shared with my wife who was out of the city at that moment. Then I informed my aquascaper friends about it and enjoyed the fabulous news

Comment of Mr. Huang Yu-Fa (TAIWAN)

This layout has originality and it is particularly prominent among the top 127 layouts. The composition of the layout and the arrangement of the aquatic plants are delicate, and especially the colour of aquatic plants is expressed well. This is the layout that you can enjoy both in your eyes and heart as if you are seeing a certain land- scape, and you want to see it again and again. The patience of the creator can be seen in the layout. Taking advantage of his extensive knowledge of aquatic plants, he successfully makes the most of each plant's characteristics in the layout. I can also see confidence in his handling of the plants attached to the driftwood. They look just like tree leaves; a new and clever technique of expression. I gave my highest rating to this layout

Comment of Mr. David Boruchowitz (U.S.A.)

The contest entries always demonstrate the principles that Mr. Amano taught, including among others observing the Golden Ratio, exploiting perspective to create depth, attaching plants to rocks and wood, utilizing floating plant species as foreground substrate plants, and the use of differently colored soils and sands. My number one aquatic plant layout this year is an outstanding example of how these principles can recreate the beauty of Nature. At first glance one this layout resembles a photograph of a beautiful forest brook with birds flying over. But then you see that it is a painstakingly sculpted aquarium garden with a school of fish. The fish have the freedom of a detailed but open layout, a natural-like habitat. They can travel freely around the setup confident that there is always a nearby plant into which they can dive if they feel threatened. The "stream" divides the layout into the Golden Ratio. This concept, which is found in many places in Nature, provides a balance without the boring symmetry of a design divided exactly in half. Stones, wood, and plants are meticulously placed to give the illusion of great depth. Close inspection reveals an extremely careful arrangement of sticks with smaller and smaller diameters to represent tree trunks, and in the far background the sticks become extremely thin and are then replaced by very small plants. The view seems to go for kilome- ters to the horizon. Central is a "pool" or widening of the stream. This clever trompe l'oeil is created by a small mirror, and the effect is the perfect crowning touch. Although I scored this layout the highest, there were several extremely close behind, and the overall quality of the entries was stupendous

Comment of Mr. Armando Miguel Alves (BRAZIL)

I identify myself with this work of art. The state of nature portrayed here shows the image of great harmony and calmness in the tree shadows of the beautiful valley, and even in the existence of a lake! The fish floating above it look as if they were birds flying in a clear blue sky. Taking a look at the composition, I can tell how happy the artist was about the composition of this beautiful painting because the harmonious balance of its components is perfect. I even believe that this is the most beautiful layout I have ever evaluated to this day! It has a clean design, a breathing area, and synchronization of images and colors, giving it a real special effect. In my opinion, when an artist wants to 'imprint' his skills and knowledge on a work as diverse as this, he thinks of an image and portrays it in a drawing. But when he materializes this image into a real aquarium, there are so many variables, such as growth of the plants, the size of the fish, the balance of the water, the sand, the lighting, etc. The artist's talent is evident. Going through so many simultaneous events, the cold drawing turns into a warm, living realization of his imagination with enriched details and his admiration for the creatures. It is a privilege to be part of an event like this even in a coadjuvant role, and to admire great works before many others will do. Congratulations to the artist of this work!

Comment from Jeff Miotke

Exceptional skill in recreating this scene. Planting is very strong to reinforce the overall feel. Great job!

Comment from Dennis Wong

Execution is outstanding. Plant textures and placement fits the perspective work and sense of scale perfectly.

Comment from André Longarco

This work is almost perfect. A diorama. I liked the look and feel of the layout very much. It looks like an enchanted forest. The strong point of this work was the sensitivity of the author to work magnificently the trunks and crowns of the trees. Sensational masterwork. The bushes and shrubs were also very well represented. They seem real. The only caveat I make in this masterpiece is the back part where I believe the pebbles could be replaced by plants or have a smoother more natural skyline. Awesome work.

Comment from Karen Randall

I think you did an amazing job replicating the terrestrial painting you chose. And what a marvelous tribute to a wonderful man! This is a fresh new look at the “woodland” aquarium. The detail is wonderful it is light and bright and uses a lovely variety of plants rather than the moss and Buce that we see in so many darker woodland scapes. Well done!

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