Gyotaku is the art of making Japanese fish prints. By pressing a smooth sheet of paper or fabric against the prepared surface of the fish, an artist can reproduce the size, form, and surface features of a fish exactly as they are in Nature. Used originally to record impressions of fish, nowadays Gyotaku receives enthusiastic reception as a decorative and interpretive art form. Major exhibitions featuring Gyotaku continue to receive excellent reviews in press and on television.
The word Gyotaku is a phonetic translation of an old Chinese term now part of the Japanese language. The first part, “gyo” stands for fish; the second part, “taku” means stone rubbing. It literally means “to produce an impression by rubbing.”
In Japan, fishermen used the method to make permanent impressions of celebrated catches. Prints of a trophy fish established bragging rights and included information such as the angler's name, date, weight and location of catch. The proud owner would then display the print high on a wall within the tackle shop for all to see, admire and envy.
Jack Brown has been an avid fisherman since a very early age. He lived seven and a half years in Japan during the late seventies where he caught many fish. The trophy fish he caught were at first photographed. Fortunately, paper rubbings of fish soon caught his eye. Japanese fishermen made rubbings of their trophy fish rather than take pictures. The next time Jack caught a large fish, with the help of Japanese friends, he cut the rice paper to size, inked the fish, made a rubbing and created his first Gyotaku.
Come and see this wonderful work from our current Loft Gallery artist!
