Gyotaku: The ancient Japanese art of printing fish - K. Erica Dodge
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How did fishermen record their trophy catches before the invention of photography? In 19th century Japan, fishing boats were equipped with rice paper, sumi-e ink, and brushes in order to create gyotaku: elaborate rubbings of freshly caught fish. K. Erica Dodge recounts the story of this competitive fishing culture, plus some tips on how to make your very own etchings.
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TED-Ed Animation lessons feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Animator Eduardo Sandoval
- Director Franco Barroeta
- Educator K. Erica Dodge
- Sound Designer Luis Orlando Ruiz
- Narrator Michelle Snow
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Additional Resources for you to Explore
Here are some stellar examples of gyotaku.
Here's a brief history of gyotaku.
Gyotaku (gyo=fish, taku=impression) is an ancient Oriental art form which uses actual fresh-caught fish to create lovely one-of-a-kind art prints on cloth or paper. Natural Impressions employs the traditional gyotaku techniques with modern twists, using fresh-caught Hawaiian fish and natural vegetation for spectacular results!
Here's a brief history of gyotaku.
Gyotaku (gyo=fish, taku=impression) is an ancient Oriental art form which uses actual fresh-caught fish to create lovely one-of-a-kind art prints on cloth or paper. Natural Impressions employs the traditional gyotaku techniques with modern twists, using fresh-caught Hawaiian fish and natural vegetation for spectacular results!
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About TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animation lessons feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Animator Eduardo Sandoval
- Director Franco Barroeta
- Educator K. Erica Dodge
- Sound Designer Luis Orlando Ruiz
- Narrator Michelle Snow
