Pablo Casado creates minimalist prints from the fish he catches in the Caribbean Sea. Fish play a central role within Caribbean life — as a source of food, livelihood and a direct connection to the sea.
He creates his works using Gyotaku, an ancestral Japanese printing technique, originally used by fishermen to record their catch. Each fish is prepared, inked and pressed onto paper or fabric, leaving behind a precise imprint of its form.
The Gyotaku printing process is viewed as a way to honor the fish and express gratitude for the life it gave. It captures the spirit and beauty of the animal, preserving its memory permanently. Once the print is complete, the fish is consumed.
Pablo Casado only uses black, organic, edible ink, showing nothing but the imprint of the animal itself. By removing colour and context, he reveals the essence of the fish — their shape, texture, movement. The position of each fish on the canvas and the use of white space are carefully chosen, further reducing the composition to what matters.
Born and based in the Caribbean, Pablo Casado has always lived in close relationship with the ocean. Surfing, fishing, and diving shaped his eye and understanding of the natural world. The sea is the source of his artistic language and each print represents a tribute to its beauty and generosity.