Logs of tan-coloured driftwood lie scattered in Huzefa Goga’s studio office in Al Qusais, Dubai.
One of the few aquascaping artists in the UAE, Goga, 37, is busy slicing and glueing together pieces of driftwood to create his latest planted underwater landscape.
Titled Twists of Nature, as an ode to the knotted roots of trees, this aquascape will be adorned with aquatic plants, rocks and freshwater fish in a bid to emulate the river beds found amid forest trails.
“Aquascapes are living artworks built in water, where plants and fish co-exist in harmony. I recreate a natural landscape in an indoor space, which then grows and evolves over time,” says Goga.
These underwater tank gardens, carpeted with coloured pebbles and replete with rich foliage, marine life and even miniature mountains, caves and waterfalls, are live ecosystems. A step up from plastic plants and goldfish in a bowl, aquascapes are capturing people’s attention worldwide, and make for an aesthetic addition to one's living spaces.
Goga, who studied architecture and runs an industrial machinery business in the UAE, was inspired by Japanese aquascaping artist Takashi Amano.
“I made my first aquascape in 2014. From then on, it’s been a self-learning process. I mostly delve into experiences from my travels, books, movies and from my inner world to curate my tanks,” he explains.
Each aquascape is unique and bespoke, and can be customised as per buyer preferences. The artist’s last exhibition, called Nature and Me, for instance, featured aquascapes such as Miles to Go, which depicted a mini forest with a trail between mountains inspired by Robert Frost's poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening; Falling Waters, which showcased a waterfall in a tank and was named after a house designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright; and We are the World and Redemption, which reflected Goga’s inner turmoil and how aquascaping helped him overcome it.
His creative process, then, starts with a theme that Goga researches online or in books to arrive at a visual landscape image he wants to create. He then starts sourcing material from vendors across the globe. Each tank is imported from Japan, and made of handcrafted low iron sapphire crystal glass, which is known for its high visibility. Tanks can range from 30 centimetres by 30cm to 800cm x 1,000cm.
It takes Goga up to one month to complete a tank. “Everything in the tank is sustainably sourced including the driftwood, which comes from Indonesia, Japan and Sri Lanka,” he says. “I also layer in lava rocks that are excellent for aquatic plants to grip on. Some of the rocks used are sourced from Ras Al Khaimah.
"I need to also keep a check on the limestone content as that can raise the pH level in the water.” A layer of substrate is added before the aqua soil to help cultivate the beneficial bacteria needed for plants to thrive.
Aquatic plants, obtained from tissue culture laboratories in Denmark, add to the greenery in Huzefa’s tanks. “You will find anubias from Western Africa with broad thick dark leaves; tropical bucephalandras that grow on stones and rocks; and bolbitis ferns and hygrophila pinnatifida, with their distinct reddish hued-leaves,” he says.
The fish are introduced towards the end. Goga prefers cardinal, neon and rummy-nose tetras, plus rainbow fish or guppies. Snails and shrimps are also a part of the floating fauna as they help keep a tab on the algae in an aquascape. The open-topped tanks are fitted with overhead lights and carbon dioxide cylinders that aid in plant photosynthesis.
“Patience and attention to detail are key in designing a great aquascape. It is, in fact, a combination of art and science. Aquascapers need to be mindful of the ecological environment of their tanks,” says Goga, who charges from Dh4,000 ($1,089) to Dh90,000 depending on the size and detailing of each tank. Upkeep includes replacing the water every week and trimming the plants when required.
In addition to showcasing his creations at various gallery exhibitions, Goga plans to open a permanent gallery space in Dubai to display his aquascapes.
Lost for hours and days adding details in his tanks, he says making aquascapes is extremely therapeutic. “I am so immersed in my tanks that I lose track of time, sometimes even days and nights. It's like giving birth to a child, and the beauty of it is you see the leaves take deeper hues and the fish change colour, even as the plants spread their roots wide.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 2,410m | Winner: Bin Battuta, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer)
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Al Hayette, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m | Winner: Faatinah, Jim Crowley, David Hayes
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m | Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m | Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Another Batt, Connor Beasley, George Scott
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Company%20Profile
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
