Romeo Eekerkik was one of the few artists to consistently explore the expressive potential of antler through both carving and surface pigmentation. In the present work, he employs graphite to bring out delicate figural incisions and uses an ochre to stain geometric motifs and clothing details, transforming the pale antler into a richly articulated narrative surface. Eekerkik’s distinctive approach set him apart from his peers, blending technical innovation with a playful, illustrative sensibility that makes his works instantly recognizable.

Labours of the North: Three Inuit Presenting Their Works is a brilliant and captivating reflection on the continuity and adaptation of livelihood practices in the Canadian Arctic, honouring both ancestral skills and evolving forms of work. Two men hold out prepared skins, their surfaces thoughtfully pigmented by Eekerkik. Beside them, a woman, her child tucked safely into the hood of her amautiq, offers a delicately made textile. Along its edges, the fine embroidery is indicated by punctuated chinks in the antler, highlighted with glints of graphite. We might wonder whether this woman is the artist’s wife, Martha Ikiperiak Eekerkik. Whether or not this is the case, the work as a whole renders labour visible and beautiful.

ND