Designer: Marie Penkethman

Carp make a welcome reappearance in Moorcroft art with help from Marie Penkethman. A trio of three small pieces together carry the name Ysselmeer Carp. Each is an open edition.

Fishing for carp is a sport enjoyed by literally millions of people throughout the world, whilst carp of more colourful appearance are common sights in gardens everywhere. Marie's carp come from Ysselmeer, a lake deep in the heart of The Dutch countryside and much loved by carp connoisseurs in the angling fraternity. Included in the anglers brotherhood is Marie's own husband, Mark. If Mark travels either at home or away, I like to go with him. The pleasure for me, comes less from catching fish than observing fish from a different standpoint. In Ysselmeer itself, the real carp have big scales and are deep gold in colour. I have attempted to reduce the size of huge fish to small proportions, whilst at the same time preserving their design integrity. The colour combination in Ysselmeer Carp is particularly pleasing. Waterweeds are stylised and symbolic: the water itself dark and uncompromising while the carp themselves have an almost leisurely elegance.