Native Art Gallery


Inukshuk

Inukshuk

Artist: Johnny Mikkigak

Community: Cape Dorset

Medium: Soapstone

Dimensions (in): W5.0 x H 7.0 x D2.0

Reference: 108263


Regular price $325.00 CAD
Regular price Sale price $325.00 CAD
Sale Sold

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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Johnny Mikkigak

Johnny Mikkigak is a renowned Inuit artist known for his striking and evocative artworks that celebrate and preserve Indigenous culture. Born in the remote community of Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Mikkigak has dedicated his career to showcasing the rich traditions and stories of his people through his art. His work often features themes from Inuit mythology, daily life, and the natural world, rendered in a variety of mediums including printmaking, sculpture, and drawing.

Mikkigak's art has been widely recognized and exhibited both nationally and internationally. His work is characterized by its bold use of color and form, which reflects the vibrant cultural heritage of the Inuit people. Mikkigak has also been involved in community art projects and has worked to mentor young Indigenous artists, contributing to the preservation and evolution of Inuit artistic traditions.