Hawaiian Gyotaku Artists Create Prints Using Endemic Or Native Fish

Gyotaku fish printing is an Asian art form that originated during the 1800's

. This unique form of printing uses freshly caught fish, aquatic life and plants, to create imprints on paper or fabric. Since Hawaii is a world renowned fishing paradise, this art form has become very popular in the islands. Hawaiian gyotaku art is unique in that it generally features endemic or native fish and plants found only in the Hawaiian Archipelago.

The Hawaiian island chain is the most remote location in the world, as it is the farthest place away from any other land mass. Due to Hawaii's isolation approximately 62% of local marine species are endemic, or native to the islands. In ancient times Hawaii's coasts were home to numerous fishponds, villages and reservoirs for the collecting salt. The ancient Hawaiians had an intimate connection with nature, as they believed that humanity is intricately tied to both the aina (land) and the moana (ocean). The Kumulipo is the Hawaiian chant of creation, which says that all life began in the sea, beginning with a coral polyp. The Kumulipo describes Hawaii not as islands in the sea, but rather as a sea of islands.

It is no wonder then that this marine focused art form has found a new home in Hawaii. Gyotaku artists still use this artistic method to document the size and girth of a fishermens prized catch. The "subject" is recorded for posterity, then ready to eat, as gyotaku uses non-toxic inks and paints.

In Japanese Gyo=Fish, and Taku=Imprint, therefore Gyotaku art uses fish and other sea life to create original prints. Traditionally gyotaku was created using rice paper and carbon-based sumi ink. Today most gyotaku is printed on a variety of paper and cloth materials, and artists often substitute the sumi ink for non-toxic acrylic paints. The "subject" is painted, then covered with a fine piece of paper or cloth material. The artist rubs and presses the paper onto the inked "subject", creating a life like rendition of the original species. Gyotaku artists will often touch up their prints using color pencil, paints or pastels.

Octopus (or He'e) is a very popular gyotaku subject in Hawaii, as are some common fish such as the ahi (yellowfin tuna), mahi mahi (dolphinfish), ono (wahoo), ulua (giant trevally), onaga (red snapper), opakapaka (pink snapper), and an abundance of other colorful reef species. Tropical Hawaiian flowers and bamboo are another form of gyotaku printing that is unique to the islands.

Gyotaku captures the imagination with it's realistic depiction of life in the deep sea. As the art continues to expand its horizons, each new location offers up a variety of different species for the canvas. The flora and fauna of the Hawaiian islands is incomparable to any place on earth, and as a result it offers up it's own "Hawaiian style" interpretation of gyotaku.

by: Joe Feesh

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