BURNABY, B.C.- A sweeping retrospective of artworks on paper by renowned BC painter Takao Tanabe opens at the Burnaby Art Gallery on Friday, November 25th. Featuring drawings and watercolours dating from the late 1940s to the present day, Chronicles of Form and Space: Works on Paper by Takao Tanabe explores the artist’s long career. The exhibition examines Tanabe’s artistic practice over more than 6 decades, and reflects upon his subjects and use of media to render a sense of place.

“We are very honoured to be presenting this exhibition,” says curator and Burnaby Art Gallery director Darrin Martens, “Takao Tanabe is a towering figure on the landscape of Canadian art, and this exhibition provides an extraordinary opportunity for visitors to see the evolution of his creativity and signature style.”

Many of the more than 60 works in Chronicles of Form and Space have never been publicly displayed before. With numerous selections from the artist’s personal collection, the exhibition is a rare glimpse into the creative practice of one of Canada’s most esteemed artists. Notable works include early watercolours West of Winnipeg (1949) and Mud Patterns (1953)... numerous mid-career drawings of the Prairies... and dramatic contemporary paintings such as Charge (2005) and Fence (2005).

Over his long career, Takao Tanabe has gained acclaim as one of Canada’s most important painters. He has exhibited widely, both nationally and internationally, and is represented in the National Gallery of Canada, the Vancouver Art Gallery, and many other public and private collections. For his enormous contribution to the arts, Tanabe has been honoured with the Order of British Columbia, the Order of Canada, and the Governor General’s Award. Born in British Columbia in 1926, Tanabe studied in Europe, the United States and Japan. Following a decade as head of the art program and artist-in-residence at the Banff Centre, he returned to British Columbia in 1980 where he currently lives and works.