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Artworks
MELANIE QILLULAQ (1934-1982) QAMANI’TUAQ (BAKER LAKE)
Untitled Work on Cloth (Emblems of Qamani'tuaq [Baker Lake]), c. 1974wool duffle, felt, and cotton thread, 36 x 48 in (91.4 x 121.9 cm)
unsigned.LOT 33
ESTIMATE: $1,200 — $1,800With its vibrant arrangement of circular patches, each featuring unique appliqué designs, Melanie Qillulaq’s work presents a visually dynamic and meticulously crafted grid. The patches, rendered in a palette of...With its vibrant arrangement of circular patches, each featuring unique appliqué designs, Melanie Qillulaq’s work presents a visually dynamic and meticulously crafted grid. The patches, rendered in a palette of green, yellow, red, blue, brown, and white, depict animals, objects, and figures, each imbued with a sense of narrative and individuality. Inscribed with “BAKER LAKE N.W.T.” and “ᑲᒪᓂᑐᐊ” (Qamani’tuaq), the piece not only reflects a profound connection to place but also celebrates the collective spirit of community artistry. Qillulaq’s work embodies the harmonious interplay of personal expression and shared identity, where each distinct patch contributes to the unified vibrancy of the whole.
For a similar work, see the textile in the Art Gallery of Guelph, illustrated "All the Wallhangings We Couldn't Bring You in Threads: Wallhangings from Qamani'tuaq", IAQ, 27 March 2020.Provenance
Acquired by the present Private Collection, Toronto, from The Innuit Gallery of Eskimo Art, 1 October 1988, accompanied by a copy of the original redacted invoice.