Qaunaq Mikkigak
Qaunaq Mikkigak | |
---|---|
ᓇᐸᓯ ᐳᑐᒍ | |
Born | Nuvujuak, Nunavut, Canada | November 15, 1932
Died | 2020 (aged 87–88) Cape Dorset, Nunavut |
Other names | Qaunak Mikkigak, Haunak Mikkigak |
Known for | Sculptor, jewelry maker, storyteller, throat singer |
Qaunaq Mikkigak (alternatively spelled Qaunak, Haunak) (November 15, 1932 – 2020) was a Canadian artist and author. She was known primarily for sculpting but also created jewelry, story telling, drawing and performed throat singing. As an artist she was interested in arts and crafts and built works that were inspired by her imagination and emotions. She co-authored the children's books The Legend of the Fog[1] and Grandmother Ptarmigan[2] based on traditional Inuit stories. She was featured in the book Inuit Women Artists: Voices from Cape Dorset for her artwork[3] and in Cape Dorset Sculpture. She died in 2020.[4]
Early life
Qaunaq was the daughter of Mary Kudjuakjuk, a graphic artist. She lived her entire life in the area of and around
After being returned home, Qaunaq enjoyed learning the traditional Inuit ways of life from her mother. Mary couldn't move around a lot due to a heart condition and so Qaunaq did most of the work, such as collecting firewood, fetching water, preparing seal blubber, emptying the qurvik, cleaning the igloo floor, and chewing and sewing skins to make the family's clothing.[3]
Her father died when she was about eight or ten years old and after his death, she began to make small carvings. Later her mother remarried a man named Quppapik and moved to Churchill, Manitoba for employment. Qaunaq remained behind to continue living in Nuvujuak.[3]
Artistic biography
Before her father's death, Qaunaq remembers watching him and the other men of Nuvujuak carving ivory and stone into small figures to sell to the
Qaunaq has created work in several mediums, including jewelry, drawing, and sewing. She is best known for her naturalistic sculptures and carving. The themes and imagery in her work include traditional folk tales, animals, angakuit (shamans), and other figures. Qaunaq stated,
"It feels very good when you're comfortable in feeling good about your carvings especially when other people like your carvings. Then you know you can do a carving each and every time you begin one."[3]
Her work developed as she built as she did not depend on preconceived ideas. She began her sculpting practice with simple subjects and spare forms. These evolved in volume and complexity as she developed her artistic style. At times, she combined multiple subjects to create totemic or superimposed forms.[4][3]
Qaunaq Mikkigak's work has been shown in many shows and galleries. Her prints were exhibited in the annual Cape Dorset print collections of 1980, 1981, and 1986. She was included in group shows such as Debut- Cape Dorset Jewelry (
Music
Qaunaq Mikkigak also was known for her traditional Inuit throat singing which she performed throughout Canada and internationally.[3]
Literary work
Quanaq was an author as well as a sculptor. Her The Legend of the Fog is the story of a boy making his way across the
Personal life
Qaunaq had a younger brother and ties to four formerly adoptive siblings. She was married to Inuit artist, Ohotaq (Oqutaq) Mikkigak, and they lived the traditional Inuit lifestyle in Nuvujuak together. She had eight children, one of her own and seven adoptive children.[3] When Qaunaq's mother and stepfather returned to Cape Dorset for Quppapik, her stepfather, to become a custodian at the school, the Mikkigak family also moved into the settlement to enroll their two young children into the school. Later both she and her husband followed in Quppapik's footsteps and became employed as custodians. Both Qaunaq and her husband produced art work for their own enjoyment, and Qaunaq took pride in helping to support her family.[3]
References
- ^ Mikkigak, Qaunaq; Schwartz, Joanne; Christopher, Danny (2011). The Legend of the Fog. Iqualuit, Nunavut.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Mikkigak, Qaunaq; Schwartz, Joanne; Leng, Qin (2013). Grandmother Ptarmigan. Iqualuit, Nunavut: Inhabitat Media Inc.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Leroux, Odette; Jackson, Marion E.; Freeman, Minnie Aodla (1994), Inuit Women Artists: Voices from Cape Dorset, Vancouver: Canadian Museum of Civilization, pp. 113ff
- ^ a b c Foundation, Inuit Art. "Qaunaq Mikkigak | IAQ Profiles". Inuit Art Foundation. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ "Qaunaq Mikkigak". www.gallery.ca. National Gallery of Canada. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ Network, Government of Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage, Canadian Heritage Information. "Artefacts Canada". app.pch.gc.ca.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ProQuest 1530205032.