David Ruben Piqtoukun facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Ruben Piqtoukun
Inuksuk built by David Ruben Piqtoukun in the lobby of the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C.
Born	David Ruben 1950 (age 74–75) Paulatuk, Northwest Territories
Known for	sculptor

David Ruben Piqtoukun (born in 1950) is a famous Inuvialuk artist from Paulatuk, Northwest Territories, Canada. He is known for his amazing sculptures and prints.

About David Ruben Piqtoukun

David Ruben Piqtoukun was born in 1950. He grew up in a large family with 14 brothers and sisters. As a young child, he lived a traditional Inuit way of life.

When he was five years old, he went to a residential school. This experience later influenced his art. It made him want to reconnect with his cultural roots.

Starting His Art Journey

In 1972, David's brother, Abraham Anghik Ruben, showed him how to carve stone. This was the start of David's journey as an artist. He also learned a lot by reading art books.

A person named Dr. Allan Gonor encouraged David in 1974. Dr. Gonor suggested that David use traditional stories in his sculptures. He told David to collect stories from the North and put them into his carvings.

This advice helped David find his artistic voice. In 1975, he began gathering old stories from his ancestors. This helped him create his own oral history. These stories became a big source of ideas for his artwork. They also helped him feel connected to his heritage.

David's Artwork

David Ruben Piqtoukun creates both sculptures and prints. His sculptures are special because he uses many different materials. He mixes modern and traditional Inuit styles in his art. This creates a unique look that is all his own.

For example, his sculpture The Passage of Time (1999) shows a shaman (a spiritual healer) as a salmon. The salmon is swimming through a hole in a hand. While shamans are often seen in Inuit art, the hand in this piece is made of sheet metal. This is different from traditional materials like walrus ivory or soapstone.

David mostly works with stone. However, he also creates sculptures by casting metal. Early in his career, he was interested in the famous French artist Auguste Rodin. David even visited Paris to study Rodin's work and learn about his casting methods. Another Inuvialuk artist, Floyd Kuptana, learned sculpting techniques by working with David Ruben.

Exhibitions and Collections

David Ruben Piqtoukun's art has been shown in many places. His work helps people understand Inuit culture and history.

Major Exhibitions

In 1996, the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) held an exhibition called Between Two Worlds: Sculpture by David Ruben Piqtoukun. This show explored how residential school affected his cultural identity. The WAG also organized another show called Out of Tradition: Abraham Anghik / David Ruben Piqtoukun: a retrospective exhibition.

In 2023, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) celebrated his work. They showed over 60 of his sculptures in an exhibition called Radical Remembrance: the sculptures of David Ruben Piqtoukun. This show highlighted his creative use of materials and his storytelling through art. His work has also been part of many group shows in Canada and other countries.

Public Collections

You can find David Ruben Piqtoukun's art in many important public collections. These include:

• The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa
• The Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto
• The McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg
• The Winnipeg Art Gallery
• The Robert McLaughlin Gallery
• The Staatliche Museum für Völkerkunde in Munich, Germany

Awards and Honours

David Ruben Piqtoukun has received many awards and honours for his contributions to art:

• 1986: He carved an Inuksuk for the first Native Business Summit in Toronto.
• 1989: He was chosen to be part of UNESCO's Canadian Committee for the World Decade of Cultural Development.
• 2000: He became the first Inuk artist to be elected to the Sculptors' Society of Canada.
• 2022: He received the Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts.