George Tatanniq pares this Muskox down to a few broad, swelling masses. The animal’s long body rises gently toward powerful shoulders and a lowered head, while the short, sturdy legs keep the animal planted firmly on the ground. Tatanniq gives us only what is needed and details are kept to a minimum: small ears, a blunt muzzle and rounded, slightly bulging eyes establish the animal without disturbing the smooth sweep of its form. The highly polished dark stone further unifies the form, allowing light to travel uninterrupted across its back and flanks. Both immediately recognizable and approaching abstraction, the sculpture exemplifies the reductive strength found in some of the finest Qamani’tuaq animal carvings of the period.

MBL