I was drawn to this sculpture by Manasie Akpaliapik in the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec because it reminded me of a sculpture by Luke Airut we have at the Winnipeg Art Gallery called Dream of Plenty.
Both sculptures are by Inuit artists from Nunavut who come from families of carvers. They were both created from whalebone which is a very difficult medium to use since it is fragile and must be carved slowly and carefully with hand tools. Both sculptures have a wonderful symmetry about them and both feature faces.
In both sculptures some areas have been left rough and others polished smooth. There is a delicate balance of sections of detailed carving with areas of natural whalebone textures.
The Winnipeg Art Gallery has another connection with the artist whose work I saw at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. The Inukshuk piece that is on permanent display in the roof top garden at the Winnipeg Art Gallery is also by Manasie Akpaliapik.
Other posts……
Finding Two Old Friends
Inuit Interactives
Up On the Rooftop