Kakivak [Fish Spear]

Description

Arnaqu was born near Cape Dorset on south Baffin Island in 1956. He is the adopted son of Kenojuak and Johnniebo Ashevak.Arnaqu began carving in the early 1980’s and is perhaps better known for his three-dimensional work. He does not make simple carvings, but rather constructions of various and often unconventional materials. With assistance from the Inuit Art Foundation, Arnaqu took up a five-week residency in 1991 at the Banff Centre for the Arts where he worked with ceramics for the first time. He has also participated in several printmaking workshops sponsored by the Kinngait Studios in Cape Dorset.Arnaqu began working as an assistant printmaker for the co-operative in 1990 and has been represented as a printmaker in annual collections since that time. The 1994 annual graphics collection included two images which were both conceived and printed by Arnaqu, marking his debut as a graphic artist in his own right. His work was represented again in 1995 with Owl and the Raven (95-1), which was conceived by Arnaqu and printed by his friend and colleague Pitseolak Niviaqsi.In 1996, Arnaqu was represented by two images – Snowknife (96-1) and Qilalugannguat Tunniit (96-2). These etchings were proofed during the first etching workshop held in Cape Dorset in November 1995, and printed by Studio PM in Montreal. Given the success of that workshop, another was held in February 1997 in Cape Dorset, during which Arnaqu created the plate for his 1997 image Suluiit (97-1). He was represented again in the 2000 annual collection by one lithograph entitled Caribou Woman (2000-01), which was drawn directly on the lithography plates and printed by Pitseolak Niviaqsi. His image entitled Paddling Home (2002-1) was chosen for its strong graphic impact to grace the cover of the 2002 print catalogue.Arnaqu continues working for the Kinngait Studios as a printmaker in the stonecut studio. His simple yet captivating print Town Ravens (2003-01) was included in the 2003 print collection, and in 2004 he was represented by the lovely and unusual Ivik (Grass Basket) (2004-01). These woven baskets are still made by Inuit living along the Hudson Bay coast in Nunavik; Arnaqu’s inspiration comes from the sculptural work of a First Nation’s artist who he met while in residency at the Banff Centre in 1991.Arnaqu is one of a group of younger generation artists who bring a new sensibility to contemporary Inuit art, often by providing a new way of looking at the familiar. Arnaqu has always liked to adorn his subjects with his own unique designs, creating a very stylized and modern image in this year’s Gilded Avataq (2008-2).