Fish printmaking originally comes from a Japanese art called “gyotaku.”
The prints are made on paper or fabric.
This method was once used by fishermen to record their catch.
They would sometimes add the location, the date, and the weight of the fish.
Gyotaku for me
Life on the boat allows me to take part in, or witness, spearfishing with a harpoon.
I then print the fish we’ve caught, making this practice a part of my daily life.
I note the date, the location, and the weight of the fish.
It’s a way of honoring the fish and preserving its memory.
My Technique
To print on board, I adapt using the materials I find along the way.
I create a custom mixture depending on the fish and the texture of its skin, using non-toxic ingredients.
I mainly work with black ink — either Chinese ink and/or acrylic paint.
Inking
My medium is a white cotton fabric that I picked up during the journey.
With fresh water being a rare resource, the fish are rinsed in seawater, then wiped with a cloth.
They are washed and dried on deck, then prepared and inked in the cabin — sheltered from the wind this time.
The prints are hung in the saloon to dry.
After the prints are made, the fish are cleaned once more, then it’s time for the kitchen!
