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Patagonia Toronto & SoFly Crew Addressing Local Poaching Issue with Gyotaku!!

Patagonia Toronto, in collaboration with @thesoflycrew presented me with the idea of printing one of their local chinook salmon due to an ongoing issue of anglers snagging these fish as they swim up the rivers to reach their spawning beds, cutting their bellies open, and then removing the roe to sell as bait. The carcass is then discarded along the river, in dumpsters and latrines. The argument is made that these fish are going to spawn and die anyway. Which sounds more like a poorly thought out excuse to abuse a system and a species. And so when asked if I would consider printing one of these victimized salmon in hopes of shining a spotlight onto the problem, I immediately agreed. I’ve always wanted to print a king salmon, and I’m pleased that this was my first.

I was pretty nervous and anxious about printing this fish due to all of its open wounds, exposed guts and excessive blood. But to convey what was taken from its lifeless body, I was convinced that we had to do it from a bottom perspective. Our process in approaching different angles is a bit more complicated and requires a lot more time. And to do that in front of an audience was intimidating but once we started, the room faded away and the fish was all we saw.

Reproduction prints of this or the other demo print will be available for purchase to fund the efforts of educating and fighting against the unethical killing of salmon for the illegal resale of its roe. Details to come.

Thank you @patagoniatoronto and @thesoflycrew for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this.

Three Week Cruise on NOAA’s R/V Reuben Lasker

From July 29th to August 17th, I’ll be on a a NOAA research vessel called the Reuben Lasker! Not sure what to expect other than I believe it’s going to be an incredible opportunity to experience what marine biologists experience while on these ships. Looking forward to new friendships and a wonderful story to tell!

Demo & Amazing Fundraising Results at ‘Kitchens for Good’!!

Fourth and final gyotaku demonstration for this month, and it was an absolutely amazing way to end June! We were invited to share our art at a dinner fundraising event for ‘Kitchens for Good’ @kitchensforgood in San Diego through local seafood provider @catalinaoffshoreproducts , where we shared the historical origins of gyotaku to a large crowd and demonstrated our approach using the same materials as the ones created in the 1800’s. The two prints we created during our demonstration, sweetened with a private dinner, were donated and auctioned off to the crowd for $1700…..each.

Joyous and SO thrilled to be a part of what ‘Kitchens for Good’ is accomplishing!!

I didn’t fully understand their mission until I heard the testimony of one of their graduates. It’s a very moving program where they take in individuals who have either forfeited their chances in life or have never had a chance to begin with, and teach them structured culinary skills so that they can reshape their lives and join the higher tier restaurants of San Diego. The brave young lady pictured spoke about her troubled past; pregnant at 14, manipulated to sell her body not long after, and so many other disheartening events that eventually led her here. And now at the age of 27, she works at an upper class restaurant, completely independent, stable and now a role model to others. If you haven’t been to one of their dinner events where these very students follow the instruction of premier local chefs and prepare the meals, I highly recommend it. It was a wonderful and very human experience.

Enthusiastic Spearos of OC!!

Hats off to OC Spearos and PELAGIC GEAR for putting together a great evening of events! Really enjoyed everyones enthusiasm for the art! We’re looking forward to future commissions complete with spear holes!!

OC SPEAROS and PELAGIC hosting our demo!!

A prominent spearfishing club here in Orange County called OC SPEAROS will be hosting their next club meeting in front of PELAGIC HQ in Costa Mesa on June 20th at 7pm! We’ll be doing a live gyotaku demo of a fish provided by the club (not sure what it is just yet). Sounds like it’ll be quite a large and fun event! Looking forward to meeting you all there!

Fantastic Turnout at Catalina Offshore Products Demo & Art Sale!!

I always feel at home here at Catalina Offshore Products in San Diego. Like walking into a bar where everyone knows my name?? 🙃 They helped me create a great space to demonstrate and share.
Very blessed to see so many folks joyfully going home with artwork. Thank you everyone for turning out, shaking my hand, and encouraging me to continue.

Next demo/art sale is at The Joint in Sherman Oaks, June 9th!!

Gyotaku Demo at Catalina Offshore Products in SD!!

I was introduced to Catalina Offshore Products in San Diego around a year ago. Since then they’ve supplied fish for my art and introduced me to countless of people, but have also become very good friends of mine that have shared the joys and burdens of life. Some of my favorite people! Really looking forward this!

Quiberon Gyotaku Week in France!

I’ve been to France four times before this trip, most of which were spent along the southern Riviera; a recent gallery exhibition as well as having my short film in the official selection at the Cannes Film Festival back in 2000. Incredible honors and yet there was never a human satisfaction where I thought, “I’m really glad to have come here”. This time in western France of Quiberon where I participated in a multi-artist gyotaku exhibition, I met a group of locals, some artists and others not. They were all complete strangers, but now my heart breaks to have to be apart from them. The kind of fellowship I search for, satisfied in this tiny and quiet town along the sea. I am very glad to have come here.

It was an absolute honor to meet and spend time with invited guests Matsunaga Matsura and Nii Yuji.

We’re on BLOODY DECKS!!!

We’re on BLOODY DECKS!!!

https://www.bdoutdoors.com/dwight-hwang-gyotaku-bd-artist-spotlight/

Cover & Article in ‘TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE’!!!

Absolutely honored to be chosen by premiere saltwater fly fishing magazine ‘Tail’ @tailflyfishingmagazine to create an original piece specifically for their May/June issue and to be showcased in a rather flattering article covering my process and theory.

Limited edition reproduction prints on Japanese washi paper of the full mahimahi spread will also be available via their site.