Art lovers have been streaming into “Re-creating the Beauty of the Heian Court: Shinbi Tanaka and Saishu Onoe” (organized by Art Gallery Hanamori), now on view at the gallery Art Salon Mainichi on the first floor of the Palaceside Building. It is a rare chance to encounter the achievement of Tanaka, who spent a lifetime producing copies and reconstructions of works that ought to be passed down—including National Treasures. The exhibition runs through Saturday the 25th.
Shinbi Tanaka (1875–1975) was born in Kyoto. As an artist with wide connections in the business world, he took part in national projects such as producing a replica of Itsukushima Shrine’s National Treasure, the Heike Nokyo. This exhibition presents replicas of the “Ise-shu” and “Tsurayuki-shu, Part II” from the Nishi Honganji manuscript of the Sanjurokunin Kashu, made in 1933 and held by Nishi Honganji, allowing visitors to see them in their original form. Also on view are the “Heike Nokyo Replica Dedication Text,” which records how funds were raised for the Heike Nokyo replica, and works in which Saishu Onoe wrote waka on paper prepared by Tanaka.
Because the works are displayed without showcases, visitors are asked to wear masks.