People have shared with me their experiences of fishing, describing it as a soothing activity that calms the soul and brings complete relaxation. “There’s nothing better than heading out for some fishing on a quiet river early in the morning,” they would say. They couldn’t be more wrong! Fishing is serious business. It can be highly competitive, just like when I once challenged my younger brother to see who could catch more fish. He humiliated me with his 22 perch compared to my single catch. Remind me never to invite my cousin over for family dinners again. Or anything else, for that matter.
Today’s builder, Thomas Jackson, probably still keeps in touch with his cousin. After all, it was his cousin who encouraged him to start playing Minecraft Pocket Edition many months ago. Thomas took the bait and quickly got hooked on this amazing game.
“I rushed to my computer and bought Minecraft PE for PC as soon as I could. So fast that I didn’t even check if my computer could handle it,” Thomas recalls. “But my computer couldn’t manage it, and I had to wait about two months before I could play.” 
Currently, Thomas is part of a large team of developers creating commercial projects for Minecraft PE. For instance, they constructed Florence for an Italian art museum. A creative endeavor, but the journey began with total destruction.
“My entry into Minecraft PE started with building structures on various servers. But foolish players kept destroying them,” Thomas reminisces. “Eventually, I sought out servers populated by real builders. This led me to test new blocks during updates on a specific server that I fell in love with. Five years later, I’m still working on that server called Shapescape.”
When Planet Minecraft held its own tournament named BassCrafters Solo Competition, Thomas participated. With a very competitive spirit, he aimed not only to create an impressive project centered around the tournament theme but also to convey a special message. While other participants focused on crafting pristine landscapes and bold catches, Thomas created Dumpster Diving—a dark reflection of what the future may hold, not just for fishing but for the world at large.
For him, building transcends mere competition or creating vibrant projects for the Minecraft PE community. “You need to show people that you can be artistic in any concept, meaning you should be able to view the theme from all angles,” says Thomas. “We were given a fishing theme, but what if I tell a story where there are no fish?”
Dumpster Diving delves into a cyberpunk wildlife realm, depicting decay and pollution. Here, smoke stacks release harmful gases into the bay, while a solitary fishing boat struggles to catch something to feed its family. Above looms a massive arch connecting both sides of the harbor.
“I knew I needed something grand and imposing. That structure became the arch linking both sides together. It perfectly fits the composition and makes the player feel immersed in the center of this dystopian scene. Personally, I adore arches for this reason: nothing is more thrilling than walking beneath a massive arch while tilting your head back to gaze at the warped ceiling surrounding you,” explains the builder.
No matter how grand the construction, it barely stands out against the smog and is overshadowed by the grim entrance to the harbor. The water can be any color except blue—a dismal visualization of environmental pollution, as well as an impressive detail of the assembly’s design.
“A really cool trick for creating colorful water is layering several sheets of colored glass. Multiple layers of glass give the illusion of depth in the water,” reveals the creator.
Although the theme itself was bleak, Thomas’s creation was received exceptionally well by both judges and viewers, earning first place in the competition for his unique approach to the subject. Most importantly, Thomas was even happier that he managed to reach the hearts of his fans with his message.
“Whether it’s a silly twist in the overall concept or a symbolic representation of a profound truth, your idea must be something you care about. And it doesn’t matter how popular your creation is or how many people know about you. What truly matters is your creativity, what you build, and your self-critique,” asserts Thomas.
Wow, Thomas, that really makes me think and inspires me to create my own fishing contest. Maybe I should reconnect with my cousin?
…I think not.
