Gyotaku
Published on Nov 18, 2015
Dis my prez on fish art
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
GYOTAKU
Photo by A.J.Salimando
Gyotaku is a time honored, traditional Japanese art, that is captured on a piece of shoji paper for the keepsake of the family, and friends, and fishers to come. Once the print is complete, the non-toxic paint is washed off, and the fish is cleaned to be cooked. It is quite simple and pure, as it has been for over 200 years. We fish to eat, and print what we fish to remember and share the experience.
Gyotaku is a traditional form of Japanese art that began over 100 years ago as a way for fishermen to keep a record of the fish they caught. They would apply sumi ink to one side of a freshly caught fish, then cover the fish with rice paper and rub to create an exact image of the fish. The ink was non-toxic and allowed for the fish to be processed for eating, while preserving records of fish species and sizes.
These utilitarian prints were incredibly life like. When done properly they retained even subtle patterns and textures of the fish. The relatively simple black ink prints later developed into an art form that added rich colors and environmental details.
For educators, Gyotaku can also serve as a great way to teach children and adults about basic fish anatomy. During the activity, you can talk to people about the fins, gills, eyes, and lateral line. For example you can discuss how people swim and compare that to how fish swim by creating propulsion with their caudal fin.
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Photo by USFWS Pacific
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NAOKI
KANEOHE, HAWAII
HEATHER FORTNER
SARASOTA, FL - TOLEDO, OR
BURT LANCASTER
JAPAN - VIETNAM - TAMPA, FL
BARRY SINGER
NEWPORT, RI
