June 10 – July 29, 2018
Noah’s Ark, 1992, hand colored kappazuri stencil print
Manresa Gallery presents a Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA) traveling exhibition, Beauty Given by Grace: The Biblical Prints of Sadao Watanabe, featuring original works of graphic art by Japan’s foremost Christian artist of the 20th century. Together, these images compose a comprehensive visual narrative of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The distinct and vibrant prints in this exhibition offers a new perspective in which to be inspired by these timeless stories.
Born in 1913, Watanabe devoted his life to depicting the Bible in a visual language understandable to the Japanese. He used a traditional technique for dyeing textiles with hand cut stencils from the Okinawa Islands to make prints on paper. When Watanabe died in 1996, he left behind a visual legacy unique in contemporary sacred art. His works have been collected by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the British Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (a Watanabe print was even displayed in the White House during the Lyndon Johnson administration).
This exhibition is a follow-up to the Ricci Institute exhibition, The Samurai and the Cross. Please join us to experience the remarkable work of this singular 20th century artist. Beauty Given by Grace displays Watanabe’s remarkable interpretations of Biblical stories combining his spiritual conviction with his uncommon style.
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415.422.5901
