-
Artworks
NICK SIKKUARK (1943-2013) UQSUQTUUQ (GJOA HAVEN)
Somersaulting Figure, c. 1990 or laterantler and stone, 4.5 x 9 x 1.25 in (11.4 x 22.9 x 3.2 cm)
unsigned.LOT 102
ESTIMATE: $800 — $1,200
PRICE REALIZED: $610.00Further images
This lithe and sinuous figure is an elegant example of Sikkuark’s meticulous craftsmanship and fertile imagination. Absent the trademark addition of sundry natural materials such as horn and fur it...This lithe and sinuous figure is an elegant example of Sikkuark’s meticulous craftsmanship and fertile imagination. Absent the trademark addition of sundry natural materials such as horn and fur it is unclear whether it was intended to depict a shaman. This attenuated figure looks gaunt yet also agile, even athletic, like a gymnast or diver caught mid-somersault. It is quite possible that Sikkuark simply saw the potential offered by a meandering section of caribou antler which could be transformed into an atypical yet wonderful work of art.
For an overview of this talented artist’s work see the new catalogue from the National Gallery of Canada: Christine Lalonde et al, Nick Sikkuark: Humour and Horror, (Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 2023). The catalogue includes numerous works in antler.
Provenance
A Toronto Collection.
Join Our Mailing List