[SPECIAL FEATURE] ADA SUIKEI Creators

“NATURE AQUARIUM EXHIBITION 2021 TOKYO” (NAE) was held for 2 months. Five SUIKEI creators expressed their current best, and it became a starting point to further expand Nature Aquarium that they inherited. Now, after it ended successfully, we would like to ask them about their feelings and future goals.

Pursuing new possibilities of Nature Aquarium through my original expressions.

My best Green Heaven
“Green Heaven” one of the two aquascapes that I created for the NAE became an aquascape created with a totally different perspective from what I had created so far. For creating aquascapes, there are various methods including getting inspirations from natural landscapes. But recently, I often create aquascapes based on my imaginary nature or by setting themes. The “Green Heaven” is an aquascape created under the theme of the imaginary mystic nature where countless Paracheirodon innesi sparkle radiantly. It was created in a way that you can’t clearly remember how it looks when you try to remember it later because it has an abstract world view. Because I created it in a slightly different way from general Nature Aquarium, I was worried that if I could maintain the condition of aquatic plants. But I was confident that it would be a great aquascape as long as I could overcome that part. And I decided to exhibit this aquascape at the NAE because I wanted many people to see it too.

My original works that only I can create
My aquascapes are often called unique and eccentric. But, it’s not because I’m purposely making them eccentric. If I were to say, themes and ideas are my top priority for many of the aquascapes when creating them. If a motif is an imaginary world, there is no model for compositions although I follow the basics of Nature Aquarium. My expressions are unique and stand out among expression precedents. That is the key to my originality. Although the “Green Heaven” is simple at a glance, it took a lot of time and energy to solidify its impression. I came up with many ideas and elements that support the ideas at the conceptual stage and made it simple by subtracting anything unnecessary. There is a jinx that when my colleagues are not sure about my works at the conceptual stage, the aquascapes will eventually become great (laugh). They are not sure because they can’t easily imagine how my works will eventually look. That means I can go beyond their expectations. I would like people to feel possibilities of Nature Aquarium through my original expressions.

Future of videos and Nature Aquarium
For this NAE, I created an underwater video of Natural Aquascape at the Sumida Aquarium and digest videos of layout creations. I usually shoot and produce videos for various platforms like ADAview. Recently, the demand for videos is increasing, and I feel more potential. The range of expression is also expanding due to the progress of video technology such as 4K and 8K monitors, and projection mapping. I think it can lead to the full potential of Nature Aquarium.

“Perfect Rainbow”
For this layout, I used a collection of my favorite aquatic plants that are unique. My priority was to plant all the aquatic plants to make the most of their uniqueness, and I didn’t care too much about the layout composition. The initial impression was messy. However, the aquascape looks more naturally cohesive at the moment after more than one year has passed since its production. The natural feeling that cannot be expressed just by artificial maintenance has been created in the scenery formed by the growth of the aquatic plants themselves. This is also one of the best things about Nature Aquarium.

DATA
Tank Size: Cube Garden W120×D50×H50 (cm)

Plant
Lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae
Sagittaria graminea
Eichhornia azurea
Anubias hastifolia
Ludwigia sphaerocarpa

Fish
Melanotaenia praecox
Otocinclus sp.
Caridina multidentata

“Green Heaven”
In the dark, when chasing countless glowing lights, there is a mystical forest with a floaty feeling underwater. This aquascape was created while envisioning such a story. When looking at this aquascape, there is a strong impression of round light green leaves floating softly. But it is purposely created in a way that you cannot remember how the aquascape looks even if you try to remember it because of its vague impression. And Paracheirodon innesi that sparkle radiantly add a beautiful touch to the mystical world as if they were inviting us to a fantasy world.

DATA
Tank Size: Cube Garden W180×D60×H60 (cm)

Plant
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Hydrocotyle tripartita
Cardamine lyrata
Limnophila sessiliflora
Limnobium laevigatum

Fish
Paracheirodon innesi
Otocinclus sp.
Caridina multidentata