Koi are unusually beautiful creatures. Perhaps because of their unusual
beauty, koi have inspired a variety of legends. The recurrent theme in
these legends is that koi, because of their endurance and perseverance,
have become symbolic of overcoming adversity and fulfilling one's
destiny. In one of the more celebrated versions of this legend, koi are
rewarded for their endurance and perseverance by being transformed into
dragon fish.
In their book KOI, Margery and Sheldon Harnick have created their own
version of this legend in photographs and verses. In their version, koi
are rewarded for a reason other than endurance and perseverance. Though
the years, the gods have noted how much pleasure men and women have
derived simply from observing the prismatic beauty of the koi. For this
gift to mankind, the gods decided to transform the most beautiful koi
into majestic and powerful dragons.
Margery Harnick's photographs not only show this transformation taking
place but also capture the remarkable beauty of these creatures in ways
that most people have never seen. (Additional photographs by Matt
Harnick portray the gods and the dragons.) And since koi are Asian in
origin, Sheldon Harnick has chosen to deliver the narrative in the form
of haiku verses. The union of photographs and verses makes a charming
and artistically satisfying combination.
