A member of the first generation of Qamani'tuaq master textile artists, Elizabeth Angrnaqquaq was originally taught to sew by her grandmother, eventually translating the skills used for making clothing into making art. As she created more hangings, she would combine appliqué and embroidery techniques in her work to create a signature look, filling the wool with her characteristic plush stitching. Many figures and animals would come forth into her textile world, all carefully stitched down and accentuated with colours, hemlines, and expressions.

In the present lot, figures float freely against a dark background, at first without rhyme or reason. Further inspection shows pockets of interaction between the stitched figures. In one corner, a pair of women hold hands and throat sing with each other, while in another, small children sit and crawl around other family members. Throughout the scene, adults stand, chat, and walk with each other, giving Untitled (Many People, Milling About) a charming, familial feel. As a work made in the last few years of her life, one wonders if this could well be a family portrait or a group photo of the community, a material love letter to the many personalities present within it.

AC