I remembered when I was rather young, I saw this image of a small fish tank in a shopping center one day. There were no fish in the tank, but only plants. Rather, lush green plants with healthy needle leaves, filled the tank, under the strong white lights on the top, and tiny bubbles flowing weightlessly around, as though gravity hadn't existed at all.
The image gave me a very soothing, tranquil and uplifting experience. But alas, somehow I couldn't linger around to take a more detailed look. So it was one glance and a move-on. This image got lost in the back of my mind, collecting dust. It wasn't until years later when I was in my working life did I encounter a friend who would bring back this little memory.
KCW was a friend dating back to the poly days. It happened that we came to work at the same organisation. And this friend of mine, somehow managed to form a "collusion" with our working peers to set up an aquarium in the work place. I didn't agree to the 'collusion" and stayed out of the fun. But I watched as they set up the tank. It wasn't much to worth any mentioning in the beginning. Just some woods with water plants, which looked normal and nothing outstanding to me.
But then, the plants grew ... until the tank was an attractive sight. It became a landscape piece, in water. I had to say, I was impressed. The same soothing and tranquil feel, the fish, the plants and the bubbles. They brought back that one memory I had from long ago. I hadn't realise you could grow plants in an aquarium like that. The idea of growing plants in a fish tank had never really occurred to me at all. And so began the exploration of the planted tanks from that point on. The experience ... it's just like being transported to another world.
Now, this hobby, I don't know what is the proper name, or if there is even a name to it. But I shall just call it aquaria. The people who "practice" aquaria are called aquarists. It appears my KCW friend had been inspired when he saw the works of this Amano Takashi guy. And it appears this Amano guy is really a somebody in the planted tank circle. I managed to borrow a few of his illustrated books. I must say, you really must see his works.
