Kiugak Ashoona facts for kids

Kiugak Ashoona (born September 16, 1933 – died 2014) was a famous Inuk artist from Canada. He was known for his amazing sculptures and many other artworks. Kiugak had the longest art career of any artist from Cape Dorset. He was also part of important groups like the Order of Canada and the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. In 1999, he won a special award called the Canada Council Molson Prize. This award recognized his big impact on Canada's culture and ideas throughout his life.

Growing Up in the Arctic

Kiugak was born on September 16, 1933. His mother, Pitseolak Ashoona, was also a talented Inuit artist. He was born in a place called Tariugajak on Baffin Island. This area is now part of Nunavut. Kiugak was one of the last people to be born and raised living the traditional Inuit way of life. This meant living off the land and following old customs.

In 1945, Kiugak's father passed away. His mother then moved the family to Cape Dorset. This community was over 200 km (120 mi) away. They moved to be closer to their relatives. In Cape Dorset, Kiugak and his family learned about carving. In 1947, Kiugak made his very first carving. It was from a walrus tusk. His brother, Qaquq, traded it for some large biscuits.

As hunting became less common, art became a new way for Inuit people to earn money. Kiugak, like many others, started making and selling carvings. His art often showed scenes from Inuit life. He carved hunting scenes, mothers with children, and even creatures from myths.

Kiugak's Art Journey

In 1951, Kiugak met James Archibald Houston. James was an artist from southern Canada. He came to Cape Dorset to find Inuit carvings for a group called the Canadian Arts and Craft's Guild. James and Kiugak worked together to help carving grow in the community.

Family Life and Inspiration

Later in the 1950s, Kiugak married Punisti. She lived in a community east of Cape Dorset. Kiugak lived with Punisti's father, Kiakshuk. Kiakshuk was a famous angakkuq, which is an Inuit spiritual leader or shaman. Living with Kiakshuk helped Kiugak learn about Inuit spiritual beliefs and history. He later put these ideas into his artwork.

After Punisti passed away, Kiugak married Sorosiluto in 1960. She was also an artist. They had many children, both their own and adopted. His oldest child, Shuvinai Ashoona, born in 1961, is also a well-known Inuk artist today.

Learning and Exploring Art

Kiugak Ashoona taught himself how to make art. When he was a child, he often drew with pencils. He didn't have much help from others. In the 1940s, Kiugak started making sculptures from ivory. After meeting James Houston, he began carving with stone. Stone sculptures were very popular in art markets in southern Canada. Many of his early stone sculptures showed realistic human figures. They often featured hunting and other traditional Inuit activities. In the early 1960s, he became very interested in showing Inuit myths and shamanism through his sculptures.

While Kiugak is most famous for his carvings, he also tried other art forms. He drew, painted, and made prints. He started printmaking in 1962, using a method called stone-cut engraving. From 1977 to 1981, Kiugak enjoyed painting with acrylics. He was inspired by Kingmeata Etidlooie, one of the first artists in Cape Dorset to use this type of paint. In 1980, Kiugak made drawings using graphite pencils and colored pencils. He even tried to make drawings that looked like photographs. However, he stopped because it was too hard to transfer such detailed drawings into stone carvings.

Legacy and Recognition

Kiugak had the longest art career of any artist in Cape Dorset before he passed away in 2014. He received many awards and honors. One of his sculptures, called Sedna, was even featured on a Canadian postal stamp in 1980. This was part of a series celebrating Inuit culture. Kiugak's art has been shown in over 75 exhibitions. These shows took place in Canada and around the world.

His artwork is kept in several important museums. These include the Museum of Modern Art, the McCord Museum, and the National Gallery of Canada.

Awards and Special Honors

Kiugak received many special awards and honors, including:

• National Aboriginal Achievement Award (1997)
• Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prize (1999)
• Appointed to the Royal Canadian Academy (2001)
• Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)
• Nunavut Commissioner's Art Award (2009)
• Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)

Images for kids

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  Giant Destroying Iglu, Serpentine & leather (1999) by Kiugak Ashoona

See also

• Napachie Pootoogook, Kiugak Ashoona's sister