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CREATOR WORKS : Wood Story

CREATOR WORKS : Wood Story

Naru UchidaNaru Uchida
ⒸAQUA DESIGN AMANO
An aquascape created with the story of a single piece of driftwood drifting through nature in mind. As it depicts a piece of driftwood that has just arrived in a spot in a mountain stream, nothing was attached to the wood. Designed to work even without the central driftwood, the layout captures the transient nature of a scene shaped by the flow of water.
DATA
Creation date: October 14, 2022
Photo taken on: March 16, 2023
Creator: Naru Uchida (ADA SUIKEI CREATOR)
Aquarium: Cube Garden W1,200×D500×H500 (mm)
Lighting: Solar RGB × 2(8.5 hours per day)
Filtration: Super Jet Filter ES-1200 (Bio Rio G)
Material: Sansui Stone, Horn Wood, Aqua Gravel
Substrate: Aqua Soil – Amazonia Ver.2, Power Sand Advance M, Bactor 100, Clear Super, Tourmaline BC
CO2: Pollen Glass Beetle 40Ø, 5 bubbles per second via Co2 Beetle Counter using Tower
Aeration: 15.5 hours after the light is turned off using Lily Pipe P-6
Additives: Brighty K, Green Brighty Mineral, Green Brighty Iron, Green Brighty Nitrogen
Water change: 1/3 once a week
Water quality: Temperature 25℃, pH:6.4, TH:50mg/L

Plants
Ludwigia glandulosa
Ludwigia repens
Ludwigia arcuata
Rotala rotundifolia ‘Ceylon’
Rotala rotundifolia ‘Fujian’
Rotala sp. ‘Flower’
Myriophyllum mattogrossense
Rotala sp. ‘Reddish’
Taxiphyllum barbieri

Fish
Parachela oxygastroides
Crossocheilus oblongus
Otocinclus sp.
Caridina multidentata
Planting
Photographed on October 14, 2022
Completion
Photographed on March 16, 2023

SUIKEI CREATOR INTERVIEW


Naru Uchida

Telling the Story of a Single Driftwood Piece


 

--- First, could you tell us about the concept behind this aquascape?

Simply put, I aimed to express the story of a piece of driftwood. The single driftwood at the center is the protagonist; rather than serving as the framework of the layout it functions as one of the expressive elements. In traditional Nature Aquarium techniques, driftwood is often adorned with mosses or ferns to convey the passage of time and a sense of naturalism. However, in this piece, I intentionally left the driftwood bare. In contrast, I heavily covered the surrounding mountain stones with greenery such as Taxiphyllum barbieri.

 

--- Why did you choose to do that?

I wanted to depict the image of a piece of driftwood which has been swept along through a mountain stream. In this work, the driftwood isn’t stationary or covered with moss or ferns—it doesn’t settle in one place. Instead, it represents a fleeting moment in time, suggesting it will eventually drift to another location. It’s a small scene that invites the viewer to imagine the driftwood’s past, present, and future. When I first picked up this piece of driftwood, I found myself excitedly imagining its story. That may be my favourite part of making a layout.
Composition
Photographed on October 14, 2022
--- I see. So, this isn’t a depiction of stationary driftwood.
Exactly. It’s not about showing something weathered by time but rather capturing a brief, impermanent moment. It’s different from the concept of wabi-sabi. While wabi-sabi focuses on the beauty developed over time, this is more about impermanence. Both are very Japanese concepts, and I believe they’re essential in Nature Aquarium design. When I visit mountain streams with my camera, I often notice how the scenery changes after a storm. It reminds me of the constant flow of nature and time. Even the stones and driftwood that form the scenery are part of that ongoing movement.

 

--- Let’s talk about the layout itself. Did you have any specific criteria when selecting the driftwood?

Yes, I focused on its presence—its size, thickness, shape, texture, and weight. I wanted driftwood that could embody the concept I envisioned. That’s how I ended up with this piece of Horn Wood. Its unique and striking shape immediately drew me in, and I felt it could take on the role of the main character. In many ways, selecting the driftwood was similar to choosing the main stone in an Iwagumi layout.

 

--- What was your approach to the planting?

Because I wanted to highlight the silhouette of the driftwood, I deliberately avoided using midground plants that cling to surfaces. Instead, I kept the composition simple, focusing on stem plants and Taxiphyllum barbieri. The lower stems of the stem plants are hidden by the Sansui Stones, and I incorporated my signature coloration – a mix of red-toned plants that resemble autumn leaves. For this, I increased the proportion of red-stemmed plants like Ludwigia grandulosa and Ludwigia repens. Meanwhile, the Sansui Stones are densely covered with Taxiphyllum barbieri, creating a mossy carpet. I thought the contrast between the lush moss and the bare, exposed driftwood might make for an intriguing expression.
Red-stemmed plants like Ludwigia grandulosa and Ludwigia repens evoke the beauty of autumn leaves.
--- The layout feels fresh and original.

The core of this work lies in the temporal contrast between moss-covered stones, which reflect the passage of time, and the driftwood, which has just arrived in the scene. The driftwood might someday settle and become moss-covered, blending into its surroundings, but this aquascape captures a moment in its ongoing story—a scene of transience.
I think there’s room to expand on this concept further. While I used driftwood this time, similar expressions could potentially be achieved with stones. I also have a fondness for the layout materials themselves, and enjoy showcasing their textures and forms. It may sound tangential, but I often think about how to present the surfaces of materials. For instance, leaving a thin layer of naturally occurring algae rather than scrubbing it entirely clean can make it look more organic. Driftwood, too, changes over time as it wears down with repeated use. I think those gradual changes can be beautiful, and I’d like to incorporate that sense of transformation into my layouts. This attachment I feel toward layout materials is something I’ve become more aware of recently.

 

--- What was the most enjoyable part of creating this piece?

The moment I came up with the idea to tell a story through the driftwood. Creating a visually pleasing aquascape is relatively straightforward, but designing one with originality is much harder. This time, I felt I succeeded in expressing my vision, but it came as more of a relief than joy. As for the fish, I chose Parachela oxygastroides to reflect the image of clear water, but I think brightly colored fish that could stand out against the vibrant stem plants might have been a good choice as well.
The carpet of  Taxiphyllum barbieri growing on the Sansui Stones forms a bright, lush carpet, while the dark, exposed driftwood creates a striking temporal contrast. Gravel Sand placed in the foreground effectively enhances the Japanese atmosphere and, as if shaped by river currents, its rounded texture fits in with the concept seamlessly.

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