Joe Talirunili imbues this small walrus with an appealing combination of dignity and humour. Raised high on its foreflippers, with head tilted upward and long antler tusks prominently displayed, the animal seems almost consciously to pose for the viewer. Talirunili describes the walrus with characteristic simplicity, its tapering body, lightly articulated features and deeply incised flippers capturing both its anatomy and character. The long, pale tusks provide a pleasing contrast to the darker stone, further accentuating the animal's rather proud posture. Despite its modest scale, the sculpture possesses considerable personality, demonstrating Talirunili's ability to lend a familiar Arctic animal a distinctly individual character.

MBL