Mr. Paszczela is the owner of Aquarius & Aquadam and the precursor of Nature Aquarium in Eastern Europe. In 2012, he established ADA Poland Idea Studio displaying Nature Aquarium in ADA full systems.

COMMENT FOR IAPLC2024
By creating unique arrangements of the inanimate world in the form of rock and wood combined with the life of aquatic flora, show the whole world your unique works. Take part in shaping the aquarium culture. Cultures of people who found a source of contact with nature in aquariums and aquascaping. I invite you to this year's edition of the IAPLC2024 competition. Give yourself this gift and participate in it. Good luck !!

Mr. Raj is the president of Still Water Aquatics. He turned to the entrepreneur from an engineer, and established a company which installs display of Nature Aquarium into public places and landmark buildings. The company also focuses on making every home have a Nature Aquarium.

COMMENT FOR IAPLC2024
As a new year rolls on we are looking forward to some amazing aquascapes from you this year. As the world is filled with pain by way of war, natural calamities, political situation and sadness the nature aquarium drives to bring out the joy in the lives of the artist and the viewer. To capture the true beauty of nature I believe showcasing the spectrum of colors underwater would give you a higher ranking this year and of coruse adding a suitable hardscape to bring a real world feel. All the best ladies and gentlemen, looking forward to another exciting year of beautiful underwater art from all of you.

Mr. Connelly is the Publisher of Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine and TFH Publications, the company that first introduced the work of Takashi Amano to the United States in the Nature Aquarium World book series. TFH magazine has published Nature Aquarium articles in every issue for the past 16 years and counting.

COMMENT FOR IAPLC2024
Best of luck to all the IAPLC2024 contestants—may your moss ever attach securely and stay true!

Mr. Longarço is the founder and business manager of Aquabase Aquapaisagismo, the first company 100% dedicated to Nature Aquarium in Brazil and conducts promotional activities worldwide. He is also the host of a TV show about aquarium on Brazilian television with more than 65 million viewers.

COMMENT FOR IAPLC2024
Hello Nature Aquarium and Aquascaping lovers. For another year I will have the pleasure and great privilege of being part of the judging panel for the most renowned aquascaping contest of the world. I look forward to receiving your work among the top 100 aquarium and thus being able to evaluate it with all criteria and seriousness! Participate and be among the best aquascapers in the world! We still have a dream!

Mr. Oliver Lucanus is a nature photographer and fish importer based in Montreal, Canada. He has been traveling to see fish and their habitats for over 35 years, resulting in several books, videos and many magazine articles.

COMMENT FOR IAPLC2024
This is my first time as judge for the IAPLC, and I am very excited to see the habitats you will recreate. Luckily, I get to travel a lot and see fish and plants in nature, and it is fascinating how dynamic, and constantly changing many of the places are. I am always impressed with aquariums that display an understanding of nature, where the fish look just as they do in their habitat.

Mr. Diao is the president of Beijing ADA Nature Aquarium World Gallery. He studied techniques of the aquatic plant cultivation and planted aquarium, and devoted himself to the outreach of the planted aquarium culture. After many years of experience, he opened ADA Nature Aquarium World Gallery in Beijing in 2018. Many planted aquarium enthusiasts visit the gallery from all over the world.

COMMENT FOR IAPLC2024
Everyone in the worldwide aquascaping community, let's put 100% of our passion into IAPLC2024! Please do express your dreams and creative ideas through aquascape creation. I expect more outstanding works than ever. I am looking forward to meeting everyone in Niigata!

Mr. Mengedoht is the chief editor of aquaristik magazine. A journalist since 1995, photographing over 35 years. He has extensive knowledge of freshwater crabs, and scientifically validates aquarium as a habitat for living creatures.

COMMENT FOR IAPLC2024
I was able to judge many wonderful and inspiring aquarium layouts at the IAPLC and I am sure that the aquascapers will once again show many creative works of art in 2024.

Mr. Yamaguchi represents AQUA LIFE. The magazine introduces the beauty of aquatic plants and planted aquarium. He works for MPJ Inc., the company that publishes the annual AQUA PLANTS and many other publications providing useful information for planted aquarium hobbyists.

COMMENT FOR IAPLC2024
IAPLC is the big moment for aquarists. In every work there is an artistic brilliance that is rooted in love for nature; though I am involved as a judge, I am always moved by that creativity. This year too I look forward to encountering incredible works.

Mr. Huang is the president of Easy Trading Co., Ltd. He has been involved in the IAPLC as a judge since the 1st International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest. He has been widely sharing the charms of Nature Aquarium from his aquatic plant showroom established in Taipei.

COMMENT FOR IAPLC2024
IAPLC is the aquarium contest which gives a platform for aquarium enthusiasts to showcase their work to the world. Here, anyone of any age or gender can have their work, their own creative expression, evaluated. The competition also provides an opportunity to interact and learn from experts across the world.

Mr. Homma not only closely witnessed Takashi Amano’s layout production for a long time, but also accompanied Amano’s photoshooting for scenic photos many times. Mr. Homma looks up to Amano as his mentor, and focuses on carrying on Amano’s legacy and further developing Nature Aquarium.

COMMENT FOR IAPLC2024
This year sees the IAPLC's 24th year and I feel that every year the quality of work has gotten higher. At the same time however, looking at trends in recent years, I have an increasing number of similar works and few pieces showing individuality. When I judge, I consider the initial impression a piece gives me to be very important. This is because I believe that the first thing to jump from the piece is what the creator most wants to convey. This year I am hoping to see more freedom and originality across the world of works created.