Ovilu Tunnillie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ovilu (Oviloo) Tunnillie
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| Born | December 20, 1949 Kangia, Baffin Island, Northwest Territories (now Nunavut)
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| Died | June 12, 2014 (aged 64) |
| Nationality | Canadian (Inuit) |
| Occupation | Artist/Sculptor |
| Years active | 1972–2012 |
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| Relatives | Mary Qayuaryuk (1908–1982) (maternal grandmother) |
Ovilu (Oviloo) Tunnillie RCA (born December 20, 1949 – died June 12, 2014) was a talented Inuit artist. She was known for her amazing sculptures. Ovilu was born in Kangia, a place in what is now Nunavut, Canada. Her art often showed her thoughts about traditional Inuit life and how it was changing. She was one of the first Inuit artists to share her own life story through her artwork.
Ovilu came from a family of well-known artists. Her parents, Sheojuke Toonoo and Toonoo, were both famous artists. Her grandmother, Mary Qayuaryuk, was also a sculptor. Ovilu's father, Toonoo, inspired her to try carving soapstone when she was young. Her art lessons were paused when she became sick with tuberculosis. She had to go to hospitals in Manitoba for treatment.
Her Art and Career
Ovilu carved her first artwork, Mother and Child, in 1966. She was 17 years old at the time. Ovilu's sculptures are made from a special type of rock called serpentinite. This rock is common in the South Baffin area.
Her art style is unique. It often has a strong, solid look, almost like buildings. Ovilu's sculptures often shared her memories. She showed her time in hospitals in the south. She also showed what it was like to be an Inuk woman in modern times. Her art explored the mix of traditional and new ways of life.
Ovilu's artwork is displayed in many important places. These include the Canadian Museum of History, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Her work is also in the famous Hermitage Museum in Russia. She was chosen to be part of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 2003. This is a special honor for Canadian artists.
Exhibitions
Ovilu Tunnillie's sculptures have been shown in many art exhibitions. These are special shows where people can see her amazing work.
- Debut - Cape Dorset Jewellery, Canadian Guild of Crafts Quebec (1976)
- Oviloo Toonoo, Canadian Guild of Crafts Quebec, Montreal (1981)
- Arctic Vision: Art of the Canadian Inuit, a traveling show by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Canadian Arctic Producers, Ottawa (1984–1986)
- Building on Strengths: New Inuit Art from the Collection, Winnipeg Art Gallery (1988)
- Hermitage - 89: New Exhibits, Hermitage Museum, Leningrad, Soviet Union
- Oviloo Tunnillie: A Woman’s History in Stone, Winnipeg Art Gallery (2016)
