I wanted to see If I could start a discussion about where we might be headed. The Nature Aquarium has been dominate for quite some time now. I am a big fan of that so I don’t mean this to be a criticism. It represents a very Japanese way of seeing or understanding nature. In contrast we have the Dutch aesthetic which to me at least is more a still life or perhaps a perennial border display. Again I don’t mean that to be a criticism. I keep perennial borders in my own garden. I am simply trying to find some definition.
Neither of these is terribly natural in the sense of what we might call a biotope. Each is an attempt at a representation of nature in what we might refer to as an idealized way. It isn’t infrequent to see the Nature Aquarium representing landscapes where fish seem to fly in the air for example. I have no real objection to that I simply suggest that it is not ‘natural’ in any sense of the word. It actually seems odd to object to the introduction manmade objects into this landscape though I can understand why many people would object. I remember many years ago an aquarium that used trash in a very effective way. Oliver Knott seems to like to introduce things.
So part of what I am asking is there something I am missing here? What is next? I see more people using mixed plantings in what might be called in some circles at least the Wabi Kusa method. How is that different from what is commonly disparaged as the ‘jungle look’? Are we moving toward a more open style in contrast to say the Dutch rules? Are twigs and moss enough?
I won’t pretend to know these answers. I am not even sure if I have right questions at this point. I am just curious what people think these days.
Neither of these is terribly natural in the sense of what we might call a biotope. Each is an attempt at a representation of nature in what we might refer to as an idealized way. It isn’t infrequent to see the Nature Aquarium representing landscapes where fish seem to fly in the air for example. I have no real objection to that I simply suggest that it is not ‘natural’ in any sense of the word. It actually seems odd to object to the introduction manmade objects into this landscape though I can understand why many people would object. I remember many years ago an aquarium that used trash in a very effective way. Oliver Knott seems to like to introduce things.
So part of what I am asking is there something I am missing here? What is next? I see more people using mixed plantings in what might be called in some circles at least the Wabi Kusa method. How is that different from what is commonly disparaged as the ‘jungle look’? Are we moving toward a more open style in contrast to say the Dutch rules? Are twigs and moss enough?
I won’t pretend to know these answers. I am not even sure if I have right questions at this point. I am just curious what people think these days.