Gyotaku by Deryck Tan
Deryck is a Gyotaku (Ghee-O-Ta-Koo) artist based at Blue Water Retreat on the island of ‘Eua, Tonga.
Gyotaku, a traditional Japanese technique, was originally used to record prized catches and has since become an art form. The process involves carefully washing and drying the fish before applying ink.
Excess ink is removed, and either washi—a traditional Japanese paper made from mulberry bark—or cotton is pressed onto the fish to create a life-sized impression. Final details may be refined by hand.
Our spearfishing and sportfishing guests have the opportunity to get Gyotaku done by Deryck when visiting Eua.
Explore more of Deryck’s work on Instagram (@deryck.gyotaku) and Facebook (Gyotaku by Deryck).
See how the process goes below!
