Discover the Contemplative Landscapes of Takao Tanabe, Where Travel and Memory Evoke Poetic Reflections of Place
Takao Tanabe, Middle Kingdom 1/88: Min Sha, Dunhuang (detail), 1988, acrylic on canvas, 81.3 x 184 cm. Private Collection. © Takao Tanabe.
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May 16 – September 21, 2026
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Overview
Takao Tanabe’s fascination with landscapes comes vividly to life through his travels across British Columbia, North America, the Arctic, and Europe. With his camera always at hand, he journeyed widely to explore the wonders of places that sparked his curiosity and creative drive. Tanabe captured their geographical features and unique atmosphere, translating them into paintings in his studio that balance careful observation with poetic reflection. His works invite quiet contemplation, as if he listens intently to the land itself.
Across continents, oceans, and lands, Tanabe’s travel paintings in this exhibition reveal both the poetic essence of the world and its quiet, meditative spirit, offering a deeply contemplative vision of place.
Vistas: From Takao Tanabe’s Travels is curated by Kiriko Watanabe, Gail & Stephen A. Jarislowsky Chief Curator, Audain Art Museum, as a Special Exhibition to accompany Takao Tanabe 100: Inside Passage, also on view at the Audain Art Museum from June 13 to October 19, 2026.
Media Gallery
Takao Tanabe, Giant of Cerne Abbas, 2001/2006, acrylic on canvas, 76.2 x 141 cm. Collection of the Artist.
Takao Tanabe, High Arctic 2/91, Aston Bay, Somerset Is., 1991, acrylic on canvas, 92 x 185cm. Collection of the Artist. © Takao Tanabe.
Takao Tanabe, N.W.T. 1/97: Beaulieu River, 1997, acrylic on canvas, 121.9 x 548.6 cm. Audain Art Museum Collection. Gift of the Artist. © Takao Tanabe.
Takao Tanabe, Rivers 1/01: Jordan River, 2001, acrylic on canvas, 114.3 x 304.8 cm. Collection of Michael Audain & Yoshiko Karasawa. © Takao Tanabe.
Takao Tanabe, Machu Pichu, 1990–2012, acrylic on canvas, 121.9 x 183 cm. Collection of the Artist. © Takao Tanabe.
Landscapes Remembered
Machu Picchu (1990-2012) is a look back on Tanabe’s journey there in 1977. Each brushstroke, layer of colour, and element of composition evokes the memories and spirit of the place, which Tanabe revisited in his mind while working on the painting. He returned to it in 2012, completing it to his satisfaction at that time.
Takao Tanabe, Suffolk Village, 1996/1997, arylic on canvas, 121.9 x 183 cm. Collection of the Artist. © Takao Tanabe.
Land, Sea and Sky
In Suffolk Village (1996–97) and Peninsula, N.L. (2014), Tanabe demonstrates precise attention to form, colour, and space. Suffolk Village depicts a historical coastal town under dramatic skies, while Peninsula, N.L., pares the landscape to sky, land, and sea, emphasizing its clarity. In contrast, Arctic and northern interior landscapes such as High Arctic 2/91, Aston Bay, Somerset Is. (1991) and Chilcotin 1/89, Frozen Lake (1989) use diffused light, soft contours, and muted greys and blues to evoke solitude, introspection, and the emotional resonance of extreme environments.
Meet The Artist
Exhibition Sponsors
Vistas: From Takao Tanabe’s Travels is made possible with thanks to our generous supporters and sponsors.
Generous Supporter
Sue Roop
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