Group of brightly painted folk art mudfish

The

mudfish is a curious creature. It lives in two worlds – earth and water – never fully occupying one or the other. Some call it an evolutionary wonder; others, a throwback to prehistoric times, an anomaly that hasn’t changed in eons. To many, the mudfish is a transcendent symbol because it can undergo a miraculous rebirth. It can lie in dry, caked mud beds during periods of drought and spring back to life the moment it starts to rain.

Carved and painted folk art mudfish (detail)

Featured is a collection of folk art mudfish crafted in

Ghana. They come from the Ashanti Kindgom, where the mudfish is a royal symbol because of its ability to move between realms. Created as finials for royal umbrellas, their value doesn’t stem from their purpose, but instead, from what they represent. They are inspirational symbols, reminding us of our own ability to transcend our circumstances and transform our lives.

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