Jo Minoprio

“ART IN CONSERVATION”

A celebration of our beautiful and amazing friends who live below the surface.

I am Jo Minoprio, printer of fish.

I like to say that I make Fish Impressions, as actually they are literally “impressions” made from a real fish.

It all started during the Covid lockdown, I was in France (hence many French names) and I needed a project. I had always wanted to print fish, having, as I do, a fascination for them; so it was a now or never moment, and that moment has become a passion and progressing.

When I started I had never heard the word “Gyotaku”, even though I knew that the Japanese had always printed fish. In my ignorance I developed my own take on an ancient method.

I either catch my fish or go to the local fishermen or else resort to the fishmongers, practically no waste as I nearly always eat my fish having made my impressions!

I grew up in a fishing family, was given my first rod for my fifth birthday and taught to fish. Ever since fish and fishing have been a passion.

Now, more than ever, our underwater friends are under attack and I feel a need to record them in all their glory and bring their raw beauty to the fore, thereby educating people about these precious creatures that call our rivers and seas their home.

It is a sad thought that these impressions might survive longer than some of the species themselves

Did you know that the Brill starts life with an eye either side and as it grows its body twists round enabling both eyes to be on top as it lies flat on the sea bed! This is the same for many of the flat fish.

Being more of a designer than a fine artist I am finding that fish supply the perfect balance between the two.

The John Dory has a dark spot on his body. In French he is called “St Pierre” and the spot represents the thumb print of St Peter.

MOUNTED NOT FRAMED (fish below)

ENGLISH RIVER FISH

A few years back I had an exhibition all about fish. Mainly focussing on the plight of the salmon.

I decorated the outside of the gallery with massive posters all about the detrimental things that happen within the River Exe catchment that sadly end up harming and preventing the salmon moving safely up the river to spawn and then eventually going back down the river to escape back to the sea to feed once again.

I used the show to try and educate people about what they could do to help the situation. If you scroll down you can see what I’m referring to.

Sadly humans choose so often to turn their backs on what they know is wrong…. It seems extraordinary that this should be the case within a National Park.