GYOTAKU: THE AESTHETIC FORMS OF FRESHWATER FISH FROM SUPHAN BURI

Abstract

        This creative research aimed to: 1) investigate and compile information on fish species and the cultural context of communities along the Tha Chin River in Suphan Buri Province; 2) create fish prints of various sizes based on local fish species from Suphan Buri using the Gyotaku, or fish-rubbing printmaking technique; and 3) assess undergraduate students’ satisfaction with the creative project Gyotaku: The Aesthetic Forms of Freshwater Fish from Suphan Buri. The participants consisted of 20 second-year undergraduate students majoring in Art Education at Suphan Buri College of Fine Arts. The artworks were analyzed using principles of art and aesthetics, while arithmetic means were employed to examine satisfaction levels. 

          The findings revealed that: 1) the Suphan Buri River has played a vital role in sustaining livelihoods and cultural development from the Dvaravati to the Rattanakosin periods. It has long been home to diverse ethnic groups, including Thai, Chinese, Lao, Lao Phuan, Lao Wiang, Lao Song, Vietnamese, and Mon communities, with Chinese residents historically serving as market owners. A survey of fish species available at Suphan Buri Market and Pho Phraya Market during the August 2024 season identified 12 species;
2) the creative process resulted in more than 50 fish prints of various dimensions that corresponded to the actual sizes of the fish, executed using Chinese ink and color following artistic principles. Gyotaku, as a foundational printmaking method, involves uncomplicated procedures suitable for embossed print molding, such as freshwater fish from Suphan Buri, allowing the artist to capture the rhythm and movement inherent in each fish’s form. A single fish can be used to produce multiple prints depending on the creator’s intention, and 3) student satisfaction with the Gyotaku artworks was rated at the highest level, with an overall mean score of 4.65.