Sunday, January 27, 2013

Sunday Stamps - Inuit art

We have our choice for Sunday Stamps, so this week I would like to remember renowned Inuk artist Kenojuak who passed away January 8, 2013 at her home in Cape Dorset, Nunavut (formerly part of The Northwest Territories). She was born in 1927 and led a nomadic life around Baffin island before settling in Cape Dorset. Kenojuak Ashevak was the last surviving member of the Cape Dorset arts co-operative
You can see more of her works at the Spirit Wrestler Gallery website


The Return of the Sun (stonecut 1961) Kenojuak Ashevak (in 1980 for the Inuit series)










The Enchanted Owl (stonecut 1960) in 1970 for the Centennial of The Northwest Territories
and another Owl (drawing 1969) for the 1993 series of Masterpieces of Canadian Art













(my copy of the Enchanted Owl has a messy cancellation mark on it, so both of these are from the Postal Archives website)

Although the Inuit are an ancient civilization, little was known of their artistic pursuits until James Houston arrived in 1948 as the civil administrator for West Baffin. He introduced print-making to the local artists and Kenojuak soon distinguished herself in the field. Born in 1927 at the Baffin Island camp of Ikerrasak, she was originally reluctant to undertake drawing, since this was the domain of men. However, she took the paper offered by Mrs. Houston, beginning her fascination with the graphic arts. She works mainly in graphite, coloured pencils and felt-tip pens, rarely using poster paints, watercolours or acrylics. Many of her prints are not "pure Kenojuak", since the addition of colour shading and texturing is done by lithographers. This year's masterpiece displays the original work - a "true Kenojuak", which reveals much about her original techniques. Not attempting realism, she embellishes her work to the point of abstraction. She insists that the owl has no special significance, but everytime she faces a piece of paper, an owl always seems to emerge. (archives website, 1993)

15 comments:

  1. funny...owls do emerge in her works, one way or another...and that is cool artistic work...btw, I havent heard about Kenojuak till now, so thanks for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stunning. Owls are such fascinating creatures I can understand why she kept painting them. I have the '93 one which I love so it is interesting to know about the artist, and sad she has passed.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful stamps - beautiful prints. I had not heard of her before, but am very glad you introduced me to her.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Fantastic. Beautiful stamps and a lesson about an artist whose work deserves to be commemorated.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you for featuring these stamps with such lovely artwork. And thank you for joining in today.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm not sure why Inuit art speaks to me, but it does. These are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Those are cool birds! They look kind of like a cross between an owl and a peacock.

    ReplyDelete
  9. wow i really like these, thanks for introducing me to something new :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. So much of what you show us are really works of art that speak to the heart. Thank you for widening my appreciation of art.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I absolutely love traditional art. My sister lives in Canada and has sent me various bits and pieces but not stamps. Not even postcards.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I too love the Inuit art, and have some small sculptures and a couple of prints. They are not easy to obtain here, but fortunately I was able to get some through the efforts of a Canadian colleague years ago,

    ReplyDelete
  13. Inuit art is beautiful.I don't think I've come across it before. It never ceases to amaze me what can be learnt by looking at stamps over on your blog.
    It is completely unique, I think.
    Maggie x

    Nuts in May

    ReplyDelete

Glad you stopped by. For anyone who stumbled here, don't be shy to say 'hi' and let me know you've visited!