Ohotaq Mikkigak facts for kids

Ohotaq Mikkigak (1936 - 2014) was an Inuk artist from Cape Dorset (now called Kinngait) in southern Baffin Island. He was an important part of the early Cape Dorset printmaking program. Ohotaq created many drawings that were then made into prints. These prints were often shown in the studio's yearly collections. Some of his famous works include Eskimo Fox Trapper and three pieces featured in the Cape Dorset Studio's 40th anniversary collection. His art has been shown in over twenty group exhibitions and several solo shows, like Ohotaq Mikkigak: Imagined Landscapes.

His Art Journey

Starting Out

Ohotaq Mikkigak started drawing for the Cape Dorset printmaking program when it was just beginning. His first printed artwork, called Eskimo Fox Trapper, was made in 1961.

As the printmaking studio grew, Ohotaq worked less there. He took full-time jobs with different community groups. After he retired from working at the Peter Pitseolak School in Cape Dorset, he went back to drawing. Three of his artworks were chosen for the Cape Dorset print studio's 40th anniversary collection in 1999. Some of his works were also printed using a special technique and included in the 2001 Annual Print Collection. A print of his work called Three Ravens was also in the 2001 catalogue for the West Baffin Eskimo Co-Operative.

Later Years

Ohotaq Mikkigak had his first solo art show in September 2010. It was at Feheley Fine Arts in Toronto, Ontario. He had another solo show there in November 2012, called Ohotaq Mikkigak: Imagined Landscapes.

In 2012, Ohotaq also showed some of his large drawings. These were displayed alongside works by another Canadian artist, Jack Bush, at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery at the University of Toronto.

Selected Art Shows

Ohotaq Mikkigak's art was shown in many group exhibitions, including:

• June–July, 2010: North Meets South, Feheley Fine Arts (Toronto, Ontario)
• July–December, 2010: Nipirasait (Many Voices): Inuit Prints from Cape Dorset, Canadian Embassy (Washington, D.C., United States)
• June, 2011: Dorset Large: Large Scale drawings from the Kinngait Studios, Feheley Fine Arts (Toronto, Ontario)
• February–March, 2012: Dorset Now, Feheley Fine Arts (Toronto, Ontario)
• October, 2012: 2012 Cape Dorset Annual Print Collection, Galerie d'Art Vincent (Ottawa, Ontario)
• April–June, 2013: Dorset Seen, Carleton University Art Gallery (Ottawa, Ontario)
• October, 2013: Toronto International Art Fair, Metro Toronto Convention Centre (Toronto, Ontario)
• October–November, 2013: The Hand of the Artist, Feheley Fine Arts (Toronto, Ontario)

Where His Art Is Kept

Ohotaq Mikkigak's art is part of several important collections, including:

• The Brooklyn Museum (Brooklyn, New York, U.S.)
• The Canadian Museum of History (Hull, Quebec)
• The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College (Traverse City, Michigan, U.S.)
• The Glenbow Museum (Calgary, Alberta)
• The Klamer Family Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario (Toronto, Ontario)
• The McMichael Canadian Art Collection (Kleinburg, Ontario)
• The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Québec
• The National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa)
• The Arnold Aubert Vernon Inuit Collection at Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.)
• The University of Michigan Museum of Art (Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.)
• The Winnipeg Art Gallery (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

What Inspired Him

Ohotaq Mikkigak's art was greatly inspired by his time hunting on the land. Stories from his grandmother also played a big role. He did not look to art from other cultures for ideas.

It is known that Inuit artists from Ohotaq's time learned a lot from working with others in Arctic co-ops. These were like art studios where artists could learn from each other. Ohotaq worked with James Houston and others at the first Cape Dorset printmaking studio. Houston encouraged Inuit artists to draw based on their isumanniivit, which means their own thoughts and ideas. This likely had a strong influence on Ohotaq's unique artwork.

His Art Style

Ohotaq Mikkigak's art showed many different subjects and themes. He often used pencil crayon, which was a popular material among Inuit graphic artists.

His work often focused on the sky and weather patterns. He would often draw scenes from a high-up view. It was common for artists like Ohotaq to use Inuktitut syllabics at the bottom of their pieces. This helped explain the scene in detail. They also used larger sizes and changed the scale to show how vast the Arctic landscape is.

A common theme in Ohotaq's art, and that of other Inuit artists, was using landscapes to show memories connected to the land. It wasn't just about drawing what was real. Ohotaq's drawings did not try to make the landscape look abstract. Instead, he found inspiration from both real and imagined places. He wanted to show how huge and all-encompassing they were. He also highlighted Northern Canada as a rich and colourful place, full of open spaces, not just a barren land. He was known for his drawings that told stories about his own life. He said he loved making colourful drawings, especially landscapes, and scenes with animals (especially birds) and people.

Personal Life

Ohotaq Mikkigak was married to Qaunak Mikkigak. She was an Inuk throat singer and carver. They lived a traditional Inuit lifestyle together before settling in Cape Dorset.