Native Art Gallery
Inukshuk
Inukshuk
Artist: Sam Akesuk
Community: Cape Dorset
Medium: Soapstone
Dimensions (in): W3.0 x H 4.0 x D1.5
Reference: 109204
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Inukshuk is an Inuit word meaning "in the Image of Man".
Inukshuks are invaluable aids to the Inuit who live and travel in the far North. Built by piling rocks in a way that resembles the human form, Inukshuks are used as guides, signposts and territorial markings, as well as hunting tools to herd caribou.
Anyone who has travelled the Arctic can appreciate how vast and lonely the far North can be. One can travel for days, even weeks, without seeing another human being. In this environment, the sighting of an Inukshuk brings a tremendous feeling of comfort and ease; a joy of knowing that one is travelling in the right direction, and a comfort that someone has passed before.
An Inukshuk symbolizes the North and tells whoever passes that man has been there before. It is hard to resist building an Inukshuk, even if for no real reason, other than a passing thought of becoming part of history.








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Sam Akesuk

Cape Dorset, Born in 1991
Sam Akesuk is an emerging sculptor who is making a notable impact in contemporary Inuit art. Despite his young age, Akesuk has quickly garnered recognition for his exceptional skill, particularly in sculpting dynamic figures such as dancing birds. Sam is a talented youth that comes from a family of artists. His grandfather is the renowned Nuna Parr, and his father is Peter Parr. His brothers Maleetu and Noah also carve.
Primarily working in serpentine and soapstone, Sam Akesuk often carves inukshuk’s and Artic animals, such as bears and owls. His work is visually distinct, thanks to the artist’s use of stylized forms and bold silhouettes. His work has been features in various exhibitions and is available through several galleries, the sculptures highly valued thanks to their cultural significance and intricate nature.
Please contact the gallery for more information about the artist: info@nativeartgallery.ca