Demonstration and Participation: Create Your Own Authentic Gyotaku Print

Drop in to observe a demonstration or sign up to create your own Gyotaku print with fish, octopus, or seaweed.

Gyotaku is an ancient Japanese art form, now practised worldwide, that involves printing directly from marine specimens to honour their detail and life. Participants will handle the specimen, prepare its form, apply sumi ink, and press washi paper to its surface—creating a sensory experience that extends beyond visual observation.

Originally developed by Japanese fishers to record their catches, Gyotaku has evolved into a widely practised art form, blending scientific observation with expressive image-making. Each print serves as both a record and a tribute—preserving the creature’s form while reflecting the deep relationships between marine life, human activity, and coastal ecosystems.

The Gyotaku workshop marks the beginning of the World Ocean Day events, including the self-directed Metchosin Ocean Art Walk from the Metchosin Arts and Cultural Centre (MACCA) to Witty’s Beach, with a stop at Sea Bluff Farm for the symposium Fish and Fishing in Our Place and Time at 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

All welcome | Materials provided | FREE | Donations toward costs appreciated on the day