One of the nation’s top landscape artists is featured in a new exhibition at the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre.
The work of Takao Tanabe is being shown in Sumie: Ink Brush Paintings circa 1959-1960, running from Feb. 13 to May 6 at the cultural centre.
Tanabe’s work is a part of the collections of such galleries as the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and the Vancouver Art Gallery.
“He is best known for evocative, large-scale paintings with low horizon lines, primarily depicting the Prairies and the British Columbia Coast,” a press release notes. “By comparison, this exhibit of 39 sumie, or ink brush paintings, invites us to experience a delicacy of technique hitherto unknown to Tanabe’s contemporary art fans.”
The work stems from a trip in 1959, when Tanabe visited Japan for the first time on a Canada Council artist’s grant. He stayed for two years, studying with calligraphy masters in Tokyo and creating an extensive body of work that has never been shown in full.
“Travels through the country brought him to his ancestral village of Shingu, where he painted en plein air,” the release says. “He describes Shingu as ‘foggy … mystical … lovely landscapes’ – a telling prelude of things to come.”
Tanabe will be on hand for an exhibition opening on Saturday, Feb. 13 from 3 to 5 p.m.
The centre is also hosting a few other special events in conjunction with the exhibition, including a calligraphy workshop on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. and a sumie workshop on Saturday, April 30 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Sherri Kajiwara is also scheduled to lead a curator’s tour on Saturday, April 16 at 2 p.m.
The Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre is at 6688 Southoaks Cres., and the gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., by donation. See www.nikkeiplace.org or call 604-777-7000 for more information.
