gacp-- I completely agree with the sentiment that Amano is not the end of aquascaping. He is not even the end of Nature Aquaria. Aquascaping is just getting started.
It seems to me though that you're suggesting that a biotopial aesthetic is better, to which I'd have to agree. Of course 1-to-1 representation true to life biotope-like scapes can be beautiful, but I'd disagree that they have more value than Amano-style nature scapes.
I aquascape for people, not for fish.
My audience's memories are of running in meadows, in forests, looking out to see the mountains, and yes, playing BY or AT a stream. My audience are not gilled river dwelling creatures, and my art's creativity will be implemented to touch them. The strength of nature-world scaping is the strength of the creative element metaphorical representation, which biotope scaping doesn't have. Well, that's a topic of Aquascaping Philosophy 101.
For myself, I haven't yet had enough experience to make up fantasy worlds, so my scapes are based on real places. I think of myself as still as the level where I, not understanding the rules of nature, must look directly at nature to learn them. However, I would like to eventually reach the level where I can make scapes based on fantasy as well.
Afroturf-- Thanks
Also, yeah collectoritis in general is a problem. Perhaps I should have discussed collectoritis in general, but I sort of figured everyone knew about it already. Maybe in a second draft I'll start there first . . .
