SUIKEI Creator
Yusuke Homma

NAC (Nature Creation Department)
Ryosuke Kutsuzawa

Kutsuzawa: There have been a number of events held in Tokyo, but this is the first one in Osaka.

Homma: I am happy because this is our long-cherished wish to hold this event in the Kansai area.

Kutsuzawa: This is the largest Nature Aquarium Exhibition to date, with nine W180cm aquariums. How did you proceed with the production, including the preparatory stage?

Homma: Since all nine aquascapes were going to be exhibited together, we, the ADA SUIKEI Creators discussed in detail in advance what kind of aquascape we would create. For example, even if the same Iwagumi style is used, they are exhibited in different worldviews, so that the visitors can enjoy the individuality of each aquascape when viewing them at the same time. I hope that we can bring the beauty of the underwater world, including the diversity of aquatic plants and tropical fish swimming freely.

Kutsuzawa: Among the five creators, Mr. Homma is the only one who created three aquascapes in W180cm aquariums. Did you have any difficulties in doing so?

Homma: I feel that aquascapes that we creators produce, are moving away from the basic Nature Aquarium style to more developed and unique aquascapes that are becoming more prominent. For the aquascapes I created for this event, I made sure that it is possible to see the parts that are faithful to the basics. I also tried to keep the elements of the aquascapes from looking alike, in other words, I tried to create aquascapes by balancing the elements. I created the three aquascapes while imagining how the compositions should be, the aquatic plants to be used, and the impression they would make when seen by the visitors at the exhibition.

Kutsuzawa: I think it is important to convey the important basics to the visitors, and many of whom will be experiencing Nature Aquarium for the first time at the event.

Homma: That’s right. I aimed to create a work that will give the visitors who see aquascapes for the first time a chance to sense the essence of Nature Aquarium. I also hope that long-time fans can see that we are carrying on the spirit of Takashi Amano.

Kutsuzawa: Which one of your works is the most aquatic plant oriented?

Homma: It’s “Forest of Aquatic Plants”. For this aquascape, I adopted a triangular composition, which is also a basic composition for Nature Aquarium. I also incorporated the idea of creating a hill of Glossostigma elatinoides in the center, aiming to create a distinctive impression through the space in the center. As the title suggests, the work is composed of a forest of colorful aquatic plants, and I hope that the aquascape can make the viewers imagine the expansion of the forest and the world beyond the space.

Kutsuzawa: I think it is interesting to observe the actual aquarium from different angles at the Nature Aquarium events, but what do you want to convey consistently throughout each event?

Homma: As was the case with myself, the appeal of an aquascape is that it is vaguely beautiful, but I think it also helps people understand the connections among living things and the natural order that lies behind it. I believe that one of the ways to bring this kind of awareness of nature to people is to provide them with an inspiring experience by having them view Nature Aquarium.