VICTORIA MAMNGUQSUALUK (1930-2016) QAMANI'TUAQ (BAKER LAKE)
Untitled (Qiviuq Legend), c.early-mid 1970s
graphite and coloured pencil on paper, 29.75 x 41.5 in (75.6 x 105.4 cm)
inscribed by the artist, "ᐃᑐᓯ ᑲᔭ ᑲᒐ / ᐊᓗᒐᒐ ᓗᐊᓗᒍ /ᒥᒋᓗᒍ ᐸᒐᓯᐅ /ᐅᑲᑐᒍ ᑕᓇ";
further inscribed by the artist, "ᑲᔭᓕ ᑕᕙ";
further inscribed by the artist, “ᑯᒍ ᐸᓂᒥᓂ / ᑯᒪᐃᓯᑐᓗᓂ [directional arrow] ᑲᐱᓯᔪᒍ";
signed, "ᒪᒍᓯᐊᓗ".
inscribed by the artist, "ᐃᑐᓯ ᑲᔭ ᑲᒐ / ᐊᓗᒐᒐ ᓗᐊᓗᒍ /ᒥᒋᓗᒍ ᐸᒐᓯᐅ /ᐅᑲᑐᒍ ᑕᓇ";
further inscribed by the artist, "ᑲᔭᓕ ᑕᕙ";
further inscribed by the artist, “ᑯᒍ ᐸᓂᒥᓂ / ᑯᒪᐃᓯᑐᓗᓂ [directional arrow] ᑲᐱᓯᔪᒍ";
signed, "ᒪᒍᓯᐊᓗ".
LOT 13
ESTIMATE: $1,200 — $1,800
ESTIMATE: $1,200 — $1,800
In an unpublished interview conducted by Marion E. Jackson in 1983, the artist commented on two thematically related prints, which helps to explain what is going on in the upper...
In an unpublished interview conducted by Marion E. Jackson in 1983, the artist commented on two thematically related prints, which helps to explain what is going on in the upper half of this remarkable drawing. It is the story of an unmarried woman who convinces her many children to kill their grandfather, who had treated them all badly. They all lick a kayak (left centre) before killing him (right). The bottom (apparently unrelated) scene describes Qiviuq’s adventure being pursued by a man on the two-headed dog Aloolah; Qiviuq is shown killing the dog by precisely shooting it in the ear with bow and arrow. One of Mamnguqsualuk’s trademarks is her “serial” depiction of several stories in one image. This large and incredibly complex coloured pencil drawing is crisply executed with densely packed figures, and colours used minimally but strongly applied. Teeming with both life and death, it’s a brilliant example of Mamnguqsualuk’s imagination and artistry.
References: Mamnguqsualuk’s 1972 (#20) print Legend illustrates the story of the grandchildren preparing to kill their grandfather. See also her 1971 (#36) print Aloolah (Two-Headed Dog); the Baker Lake catalogue includes a lengthy explanation of the story. For more information about Victoria Mamnguqsualuk and her myth-related art see Charles Moore, Keeveeok Awake!: Mamnguqsualuk and the Rebirth of Legend at Baker Lake, (Edmonton: Ring House Gallery / University of Alberta Press, 1986). Note also the recent solo exhibition of work in Victoria Mamnguqsualuk, Toronto, Art Gallery of Ontario, 10 September 2022 - 2 January 2023.
References: Mamnguqsualuk’s 1972 (#20) print Legend illustrates the story of the grandchildren preparing to kill their grandfather. See also her 1971 (#36) print Aloolah (Two-Headed Dog); the Baker Lake catalogue includes a lengthy explanation of the story. For more information about Victoria Mamnguqsualuk and her myth-related art see Charles Moore, Keeveeok Awake!: Mamnguqsualuk and the Rebirth of Legend at Baker Lake, (Edmonton: Ring House Gallery / University of Alberta Press, 1986). Note also the recent solo exhibition of work in Victoria Mamnguqsualuk, Toronto, Art Gallery of Ontario, 10 September 2022 - 2 January 2023.
Provenance
Collection of John & Joyce Price, Seattle, WA.Join Our Mailing List
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