Arnaqu Ashevak was as close to a Renaissance man as any of the artists in Kinngait. He was a superb multi-media sculptor, a trained lithographer, a renowned graphic artist, and a ceramicist who studied at the Banff Centre for the Arts. Selecting subject matter that was often eclectic, he would sometimes focus on a single object such as this kakivak (traditional Inuit fishing spear). Used either with a jig to attract fish or in a shallow fishing weir, the kakivak had bone prongs that would allow the hunter to spear the fish and hold onto it. Arnaqu daringly chose to depict this kakivak across three sheets of paper, creating a triptych. Thus, it is basically life size. The long visual element of the shaft is balanced by the char on either side, which in turn offsets the all-important third panel containing a colourful jigger and the complex head of the spear. The five components, made of antler or bone, take on an almost sculptural feel. Being a lithographer himself, Arnaqu knew the potential of this medium to capture texture and a nuanced background. The dark grain of the wood, complemented by the softer lines and colours of the char, is shown against a mottled light blue background, which lends a greater sense of depth than a flat ground would. This is an epic and beautiful image that makes this everyday fishing spear appear monumental.

References: For the famous print Tattooed Women by the artist see First Arts Auctions, December 2020, Lot 143. See Christine Lalonde and Leslie Boyd Ryan, Uuturautiit: Cape Dorset Celebrates 50 Years of Printmaking (Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 2009), cats. 47,57. For a discussion of the artist’s sculptures and graphic works see Patricia Feheley, “A Filtered Vision: The World According to Arnaqu Ashevak” in Inuit Art Quarterly (Summer 2006), pp. 24-31.