AGAIAC 2026 / Aquatic Garden / 220L+

#1279 Under The Cave

Acho Choky • Indonesia Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

22 rank

Acho Choky

Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Quick Stats

Style: Aquatic Garden
Size: 120x60x45 cm
Volume: 324 L (85.6 gal.)
Plant Species: 8
Fish Species: 2

Judges' Comments

I like the way the scene develops on several levels: the dark inside of the cave, the central opening with the light coming through, and another landscape with rocks and plants in the distance. This play of planes gives a lot of depth! I also like the contrast between the lit left wall and the large dark mass on the right. If I may give my personal opinion, maybe the right side is a bit too dark and uniform, especially since it takes up quite a large part of this landscape. The fish are also hard to see, as their colour blends in with the floor: a more colourful species would have created a nice contrast, or, placed in front of the bright opening, they would have stood out much more and enhanced the scene. That said, this is without doubt a work of great technical skill!

— Gloria Ciriello

A massive Cave Ceiling Here you can feel a claustrophobic sense of confinement. The right-hand side is so extraordinarily dark that my initial impression was that someone had covered that part of the image with black cardboard. Of course, that is not the case. But it really is dark. Very, very dark. All right, then. This must be a deliberate artistic decision, a design element intended to introduce an extraordinary degree of drama into the composition and its atmosphere. And, to be fair, it works. As a viewer, I almost feel compelled to duck my head. The scene is genuinely imposing, even threatening. Darkness can evoke uncertainty, create fear, and stimulate the imagination. It can affect us emotionally as well as intellectually. At the same time, I cannot help wondering whether the dramatic effect has been pushed a little too far. Let me therefore turn to the areas that are clearly visible. Here we find monumental rock formations, with additional overhanging structures that provide a strong contrast to the cave ceiling and serve as a visual counterweight to its immense mass. Light filters through the rock overhangs above and enters again towards the back, where the rocky landscape appears to come to an end. The overhanging formations are adorned with beautifully gnarled roots, while the use of different types of stone in some areas lends the scene a convincing sense of authenticity. Overall, the landscape feels remarkably natural. My only reservation concerns the moss-covered stones in the foreground, which do not quite integrate into the composition as successfully as the other elements. In my view, the horizontal lines of vegetation extending inwards from both sides could have been developed more deliberately. All things considered, this is a highly accomplished and coherent composition. But what about its dark counterpart? Does it enrich the image by framing the landscape and adding contrast and drama? Or does it ultimately deprive the composition of visual depth and information? Perhaps a more nuanced approach to lighting could have revealed more of the cave ceiling's structure without diminishing its monumental presence. I decided to test this idea by brightening that area in Photoshop. And lo and behold, there is a surprising amount of detail hidden in the darkness! For me, the challenge lies in finding the right balance, and I remain uncertain whether that balance has been achieved here. What I can say with confidence is that few entries this year have prompted me to reflect so deeply on their design choices. And I cannot recall seeing a bolder approach in quite some time. I cannot help but express my profound respect and admiration for this extraordinary piece. It has challenged me, made me question my own judgement, and given me plenty to think about. For that, I offer my sincere thanks. This layout ended up at fifth place in my personal ranking. My heartfelt congratulations!

— Frederic Fuß

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