How to Go:
What: “Beauty Given by Grace”
Art by Sadao Watanabe
Where: Marian Library Gallery
Roesch 7th floor, U.D.
When: Continues through Nov. 15
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
weekends by appointment
More Info: (937) 229-4254
http://campus.udayton.edu/mary
When one thinks of Christianity, Japan is not usually a place that comes to mind. Less than one percent of the 125 million population in Japan calling themselves Christians. Sadao Watanabe was born in Tokyo, and his father was one of those few believers. He died when Sadao was 10. However, a Christian woman in the neighborhood invited him to church, and he was baptized seven years later after recovering from tuberculosis.
You can see the dramatic expression of Watanabe’s faith at the Marian Library at the University of Dayton. “Beauty Given by Grace” is on view with a selection of 50 original prints, cards and calendars. They are on loan from the collections of Sandra Bowden and John A. Kohan.
“It is important that the Christian community and the culture at large become aware of this remarkable artist,” said Bowden. “Against all odds … he chose to dedicate his life to being an artist that depicted biblical stories. (His) work is beautiful, and has a charm and humor in many instances. It is an example to artists of today how it is important to be an artist who is Christian.”
Watanabe dropped out of school at a young age and started working in fabric shops, dyeing clothes and sketching patterns. Later he was inspired by the work of Serizawa Keisuke, and attended one of his study groups. Although his “Story of Abraham” was refused by a Tokyo print show, “The Story of Ruth” in 1947 made him famous. He received first prize at the Modern Japanese Print Exhibition in New York in 1958 for “Moses and the People of Israel.”
He wanted to create art that could be accessed by everyday people. He chose scenes from the Bible to communicate the truth of Scripture in a Japanese context. With that in mind, he took a few liberties with elements in his compositions: Peter is portrayed in a formal Samurai hakama worn over a kimono, and the Last Supper meal was changed to fish, rice, sushi and sake.
His work can be grouped into various subject areas: Marian themes: Madonna and Child, The Annunciation, Nativity, Flight to Egypt, and Descent from the Cross. New Testament themes: Pentecost, Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet, Laborers in the Vineyard, Mary Magdalene, Good Shepherd, The Prodigal Son, Boat in the Storm, Well in Samaria, Last Supper, Triumphal Entry, and Jesus on the Cross. Old Testament themes: Noah’s Ark, The Story of Ruth, Jonah, Elijah Ascending, Harvesting the Grapes, The Sacrifice of Isaac, Eve and the Serpent, and Adam and Eve.
The artist believed that beauty does not come from the skills of the craftsman, but from the grace of God shining through the natural materials that are used. This is part of the Mingei (Japanese folk art) philosophy that has other values: art reflects the artistic sense of the people; special attention is given to the craft; simple beauty with a sense of peace is favored; objects should be seen for what they are and reflect the Buddhist art philosophy.
This mindset is evident when viewing Watanabe’s art. For example, “Noah’s Ark” is simplistic in design, with each animal evident in the stacked grid-like design. The bright red background sets off the images green, gold, white and black hues.
He perfected a Japanese fold art technique called katazome, or stencil dyeing. He used all-natural pigments on two types of Japanese paper, mimigami or washi.
Watanabe passed away in 1996 at the age of 82. But he left a lasting legacy of beautiful biblical images for us to admire.
“I feel it is my mission to create Christian art for the Japanese people,” said Watanabe in a videotaped interview about his artwork.
This exhibit is the fourth stop on a tour sponsored by Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA). The organization is dedicated to growing a relationship between art and Christianity. This traveling exhibit will visit other universities, churches and small museums.
“Watanabe catches the essence of Incarnation. As a committed Christian he understood how essential it is to realize that Christ could have been born anywhere, anytime, in any culture — so universal is his message, said Sister M. Jean Frisk, assistant for art/special projects. “An artist brings the Christ message to birth when this universality is understood in the symbols and beauty of his own culture.”
About the Author