...Oh, how the daemon laughed at her. This little carp, who dreamed of swimming against the mighty falls. Baring her tiny teeth, she leaped and leaped and fell a thousand times. But she never wavered or believed for a moment that reaching the top was not possible... For a creature of the water, she burned with fire. That flame churned in her scaly belly, turning the wheels of fate as she miraculously transformed. A touch from the goddess's mercy ...Her fins glowed a golden yellow morphing and bending her broken body a pair of metallic, majestic wings... - Aquarius The Book of Mer. Tales of the Golden Gate.

11x14 Print

The Taisho Sanke Lithograph

signed by the artist

Buy Print

Koi swim against river currents to gain strength. According to Chinese legend, one Carp, through sheer will and the compassion of the gods [ who were amused by this little fish’s ambitions ] transformed a little fish into a flying dragon that swam up the waterfalls of the Yellow River towards the mighty Dragon Gate.

Based on that legend,  the collection of Koi fish became a symbol of aspiration and perseverance that sparked the idea for the Book of Mer. A retelling of those aquatic tales from all over the world. This KoiMaid is based on the popular Japanese variety, The Taisho Sanke. 

Project

Aquarius The Book Of Mer

Client

Afua Richardson

Task

Original Creator. Concept, Design.

Support on Patreon