[TheStoriesOfTop7] Place of origin - Zhemin Fan / China - IAPLC 2023

24 August 2025

1996

This year's Grand Prix was awarded to the work depicting the nature of a mountainous virgin forest. At first glance, the layout may seem plain, but the balance of the composition and the expression of perspective are excellent and combined with the expression of a sense of nature based on the muted green tones, it is an interesting work that is pleasant to look at and makes you feel as if you are actually in nature.

[TheStoriesOfTop7] Place of origin - Zhemin Fan / China - IAPLC 2023

In the front center of the layout, several pieces of driftwood are arranged like the roots of a large tree, and the lines of the driftwood are very elongated, skillfully expressing the sense of scale and power of nature. This part also serves as a soil retainer, and there is a planting area like a small open square one level above the foreground. Behind this is a retaining structure that is a scaled-down version of the roots of the large tree in the foreground, and one level above it is a small planting area that leads to the space in the center back of the layout. Thus, by repeating similar structures of different sizes, the layout beautifully expresses a sense of power and perspective. In addition, the deep-entering expressions on the left and right sides emphasize the central structure and play a role in expressing a sense of nature.

IAPLC 2023 World Ranking Announcement - World Ranking 0001 - Grand Prize

Place of origin

Author: Zhemin Fan / China

Aquarium Size/W1,500×D600×H600 (mm)

Aquatic Plants

Bolbitis heudelotii
Hymenasplenium obscurum
Helanthium tenellum
Rotala mexicana 'Goias'
Marsilea drummondii
Riccia fluitans
Hydrocotyle verticillata
Eleocharis pusilla
Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba'
Micranthemum sp.
Cryptocoryne parva
Bucephalandra sp. 'Melawi'
Rotala rotundifolia 'Green'
Vesicularia ferriei
Riccardia chamedryfolia
Taxiphyllum barbieri
Riccardia graeffei
Taxiphyllum sp. 'Flame Moss'
Fissidens fontanus

Fish & Invertebrates

Paracheirodon axelrodi
Ancistrus sp.
Crossocheilus oblongus

AWARDS

World Ranking 0001 - Grand Prize IAPLC 2023

The first place (Grand Prize) in the world ranking of the IAPLC 2023 went to the work "Place of Origin" by Mr. Zhemin Fan of China, which scored 1,592 overall points. This work was selected individually as one of the top 10 works by 7 out of 10 judges. And Chinese judge, Mr. Jiangang Diao selected it as his Best Aquarium. His comments are as follows

Comments from Mr. Jiangang Diao (People's Republic of China)

This work demonstrates outstanding creativity and exquisite technique and is a model of planted aquarium art. The sophisticated layout and color coordination create a unique beauty that seems to draw the viewer into a magical underwater world. Aquatic plants, stones, driftwood, and other materials are skillfully combined to form a natural and harmonious aquascape. In addition, the meticulous attention to detail in the height and density of the aquatic plants and the effects of light and shadow increase the realism and depth of the work. I gave this outstanding work my highest score because it reached a high level of both design and technique.

Comments

On the evening of August 26, I returned to my factory to watch the live broadcast of the 2023 IAPLC results announcement. And I watched the content while drinking a cold can of beer. I was confident in my work this year and knew it would do well. As my friends' works appeared on the screen and each one was introduced, I saw several Chinese participants' names until the 27th place was announced. As I watched the announcements, I kept thinking, "Not me, not me yet," and kept saying that my name would not appear until the 8th place was announced. It was time for the top seven to be announced and by then I was already yelling "don't show up". Sure enough, 7th place was not me, 6th place wasn't me either, it wasn't 5th place, it wasn't 4th place, and it was already time to announce the top three, and I wondered if the God of fortune was coming down. 3rd place was not me, 2nd place was not me either. Finally, it was time for this year's Grand Prix to be announced, and I couldn't help but stand up and drink a can of beer in one gulp. When the beautiful and pretty emcee was about to announce the world ranking number one and the Grand Prix, she took a short pause. My heart was racing. Then on the screen, my work, which I had seen almost every day, was introduced. I had finally won the Grand Prix. This year, I had reached the pinnacle of my long-cherished dream. I immediately received a call from my colleague, Mr. Chao Wang, congratulating me, and after that, I was filled with joy as I received one congratulatory phone call after another.

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