ADA Mini-M: Source

[Ugly Genius]

Hey, thanks, cint. I really needed a pick-me-up like that right now.

Because:

I was showing this tank to someone who knows nothing about planted tanks. Immediately, she started ripping into it. I mean, tearing it to shreds. "The focal point is wrong;" "Too much texture on the ground;" "Something's missing." And so on. In the end, I was left with the impression that the tank had no artistic merit what-so-ever in her mind.

Fairly quickly I started regretting pretty-darned strongly ever showing her the tank.

While I do agree with all the criticisms she gave, that's kind of the point of this tank: to intentionally break the rules and still have it come out looking cool.

The tearing-into felt a bit like an attack on my artistic sensibilities. That by doing what I had done -- broken the rules -- I had somehow failed in my attempt to make something pretty.

This gets me.

I don't believe that art should be regulated by rules. Leave that to the academics who study the stuff. Artists should be motivated more by impulse, emotion, practice, and execution. And I believe they should be allowed to break any and all rules they see fit.

Anyway, it kinda irked me. Not terribly so, but it did irk me.

So, thanks, cint (and all the rest of you here). I'm glad you see what I'm trying to show.

The details are slowly starting to emerge from beneath melting algae.
Plants pictured (counter-clockwise from the HC): HC, Fontinalis hypnoides, Pottias, and Weeping Moss.

[bsmith]

Hey man dont get down on your self. I believe one of Einstein's grade school teachers told his parents that he was feable minded. You cant always be everything to everybody and I (knowing absolutely nothing about art) couldnt agree with your beliefs in it anymore.

[Francis Xavier]

I know how you feel UG. I'd even put that up there with impressing people who know nothing about planted tanks with your aquascapes are among the biggest challenges of the aquascaping hobby. In fact I agree with you so much on that note that I've been contemplating continuing my Iwagumi article with the opening sentence "okay, now forget everything you've learned, it's pretty much irrelevent, but needed background knowledge, now you're in the 'anything goes' category, good luck!"

I see this tank a lot like I'm looking at my new shou stone aquascape in the Mini S, something that really isn't going to capture hearts or prove it's worth until it's grown in and people go "oh yeah! that's cool!!" when they'd say "that's all wrong because XYZ" while bare of plants, and I'd probably say the same thing looking at it.

Though honestly, if you wanted to impress someone I'd have shown them Quasi-Wabi or riverrun

Edit - I guess what these experiences goes to show is that there are aquascapes where right out the door they wow you and their challenge is maintaining the wow, and others where out the door they are tenuous at best, and down the road is when they surprise you and go wow, whose challenge is seeing their potential when the bare bones are down.

[Ugly Genius]

Thanks, bsmith.

Thanks, X. Truth be told, she wasn't impressed all that much with Quasi, riverrun, Elements, or Riven Tanglewood.
Screw 'em. I do what I do; can't help but do what I do; so if they don't like what I do, get out the way, 'cause I can't stop even if I wanted to.

Today I'll do a whole lot less talking.

The blackout is working. There's still a lot of hair algae, but it's dying back. (Knock on driftwood.)


I ♥ Pottias
4 eva!


Mini Christmas Moss is starting to do it's thing.
This stuff's rad. It's very small and very cute.


The Pearlgrass is going to make this tank. Just you watch.


This intersection will be the tank's focal point.
All plants will serve this point.

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Is that UG or microsword?

[pbfreakon]

Originally Posted by Ugly Genius

Artists should be motivated more by impulse, emotion, practice, and execution. And I believe they should be allowed to break any and all rules they see fit.

Something to consider...

Suggesting that art should not be limited by rules is the same as limiting art by rules. Not allowing rules is a rule in itself.

Art is subjective; it means something different to everyone. Strict rules or no rules, it's all art. Fundamentally the same, but very different.


Basically what I'm saying is accept her opinion as her own, and do what you like.

[Francis Xavier]

it's microsword ZTM.

[Ugly Genius]

That's Mini Microsword with some Japanese Hairgrass, Zoo.

I see where you're coming from, pb.
I should clarify that I'm not in any way against the rules. Many of the tanks I've done have conformed to 1.61803399, for example. I respect the rules and find them very helpful when setting up a hardscape.
My point is that one should not be forced to operate within those rules. One should take liberties to break whatever rule he or she sees fit to achieve the ends that he or she envisions.
Learn the rules and use them to help you, but one should not be afraid to bend or break them.
So, sure, not having a rule is a rule, but that's exactly the point. With no rules, the fact that you can follow the rules is inherent and implied in the "no rule" concept. No rules means you can have rules.
If you choose to.
Feel me?

[macclellan]

Originally Posted by Ugly Genius

I know this could probably be filed under "Gone Too Far", but I started this thing and I'm going to ride it out 'til the end.

Ya think? GL with that one!

I like some of your tanks, but this one... I just don't 'get.' At all.

[CL]

This one is definitely a groundbreaker! Have you ever read "My Name is Asher Lev"? It's an easy read, I had to read it last year, and this tank reminds me of that book.

[Ugly Genius]

Hey, Mac. That's totally cool.
For the record, I don't think you're "not getting it." That would imply that in some way, you and I are not operating on the same level. I'm certain that is not the case. You just don't like this tank and I feel you.
With all of the comments I got this week about this tank, believe me, I've done some artistic soul searching to see if I fell off the rails somewhere back there and wandered way off the reservation.
(Don't answer that.)
However, when I look into this tank, I feel something. Something's there. You know? That little voice in the back of your head that whispers to you that something's there. (Or maybe that voice means I'm crazy.)
It'll be a challenge to get it to come out, and I'd be foolish to expect everyone to like it when it does, but I'm going to play this one out. I think it'll be cool.

Thanks, cl. Appreciate that.
I never read that book. I read The Chosen by the same author way back when for summer required reading in high school, but the one you mentioned sounds really interesting. I'll check it out. Thanks for the tip!

I added a Nerite to this tank today. He escaped from Elements and was holed up in his shell outside the tank for I-don't-know how long. He's out of his shell now and hopefully he likes it here better.

Look. He already made a friend!

[Ugly Genius]

[CL]

I like it! It compliments the rock really well.

[Craigthor]

Nice UG. I got a few Nerites coming in for my tank early next week. Maybe an Assasin Snail to take care of my tiny pond snail population.

Craig

[legomaniac89]

Sweeeeet. I just got a couple stems of that stuff from ZTM, and I really like it.