Iyola Kingwatsiak

Iyola Kingwatsiak (August 3, 1933 – 2000) was an Inuit visual artist from Kinngait.

Early life

He was born on August 3, 1933,[1] in Kinngait (Cape Dorset) in the Qikiqtaaluk Region (Baffin Island).[2] Many of his family members were also artists, including his sister Tye Adla (1936–1990),[3] his sister Keeleemeeoomee Samualie (1919–1983),[3] his sister Anna Kingwatsiak (1911–1971),[3] and his brother Mikigak Kingwatsiak.[3]

Career

Kingwatsiak first worked as a stone carver, then later became well known for his printmaking.[2] His artwork often featured Arctic animals (including birds, rabbits, walruses, whales, and bears).[2] He worked alongside artists Osuitok Ipeelee, Kananginak Pootoogook, Lukta Qiatsuk, and Eegyvudluk Pootoogook.[4][5][6]

His work is held in a variety of museums, including the National Gallery of Canada,[1] the National Museum of the American Indian,[7] the Hood Museum of Art,[8] the University Art Gallery at the University of Pittsburgh,[9] and the University of Michigan Museum of Art.[10]

In 1992, he attended the Conference on Inuit Art held at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario. Later, he said of the trip, "I enjoyed being there, but the problem was that we sat there like pieces of art in a showcase display. The non-Inuit at the conference spoke as much as they pleased about their own lives and how they lived like Inuit. But they never gave us a chance to speak or asked us questions about our work. The white people dominated as usual. . . .We work hard to make a living with our art and nobody asked us to talk about how we make our carvings and prints and what kind of tools and other things we use."[11]

References
  1. "Iyola Kingwatsiak". www.gallery.ca. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  2. Foundation, Inuit Art. "Iyola Kingwatsiak | Inuit Art Foundation | Artist Database". Inuit Art Foundation. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  3. "Iyola Kingwatsiak". DaVic Gallery of Native Canadian Arts. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  4. "Canadian Museum of Civilization". www.historymuseum.ca. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  5. "Photos of Everyday Life in Sikusiilaq (Called Cape Dorset, For Now)". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  6. "'That's my auntie': A new book reframes photos from Indigenous communities - Macleans.ca". www.macleans.ca. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  7. "Merman | National Museum of American Indian". americanindian.si.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  8. "Reflections in my Mind". Hood Museum. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  9. "University Art Gallery : Object : Telluliyuk Sea Goddess [2002.06.07]". uag.pitt.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  10. "Exchange|Search: artist:"Iyola Kingwatsiak"". exchange.umma.umich.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  11. Ulrikab, Abraham (2005). The Diary of Abraham Ulrikab: Text and Context. University of Ottawa Press. pp. vii. ISBN 978-0-7766-0602-6.
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