Gyotkau: Demo of Asian Fish Printing

Service Description

DATE & TIME: July 9, 4:30pm - 6:30pm SIGN UP DEADLINE: JULY 3 Instructor: Jean Kigel COST: Free and open to the public. Sign up/RSVP required. Capacity: 40 Skill level: Any Location: The Maine Art Gallery Materials: N/A Description: Gyotaku comes from Japanese, “gyo” meaning "fish" + “taku” meaning "rubbing” or “impression.” Gyotaku is a traditional Japanese form of printmaking dating from the mid-1800s. Sumi and/or printers’ inks are applied to a fish, after which a piece of rice paper is pressed onto the fish, and then pulled to give an exact impression. Historically, fishermen used gyotaku to record their catches, and gyotaku prints can still be seen hanging in tackle shops in Japan. It is rumored that samurai would settle fishing competitions using Gyotaku prints. Currently Gyotaku has evolved into an art form, with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art featuring these hand-pulled prints. The Smithsonian magazine in 2020 wrote traditional Japanese fish-prints collected from the Edo period could become a boon for conservation. The prints corroborate the abundance of the region’s dwindling species. Demo coincides with with the exhibition, "Art to Table: Visual Sustenance," on display at the gallery. Refreshments will be served. Please sign up for free if you plan to attend.